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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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THE 



EAKLT AND LATEE 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 



by y 

Eev. kichakd b. cook, a.m., 

Pastor of the Second Baptist Chuech, Wilmington, 
Delaware. 



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PHILADELPHIA : 

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

1420 CHESTNUT STREET. 



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7N 






the LIBRARY 
or CONGRESS 

WASHINGTON 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by the 

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



"Westcott & Thomson, 
Stereotypers and Elecirotypers, Philada. 



PKEFACE, 



At the meeting of the Delaware Baptist 
Union, at Media, Pennsylvania, November, 
1879, an outline of "The Early and Later 
Delaware Baptists" was read, whereupon a 
Committee, consisting of Prof. G. D. B. Pep- 
per, D. D., Rev. George Bradford, and Rev. 
William H. Young, was appointed by the 
"Union" to confer with the author and se- 
cure its publication in full. 

The author gratefully acknowledges his in- 
debtedness for books of reference, pamphlets, 
and manuscripts to the Hon. H. G. Jones, P. 
Miles Frame, Esq., Elder E. Rittenhouse, 
Rev. B. MacMackin ; and for the most of the 
facts relating to the organizations, pastors, etc. 
of the early Baptist churches in Delaware, 



4 PREFACE. 

such as Welsh Tract, Duck Creek, Gravelly 
Branch, Mispillion, etc., he is indebted to the 
manuscript materials of Rev. Morgan Ed- 
wards, which are preserved in the Library 
of the American Baptist Historical Society, 
Philadelphia. 

The author returns his acknowledgments to 
Louis H. Everts, publisher of The Baptist En- 
cyclopaedia — which he is now issuing under the 
editorial care of Wm. Cathcart, D. D. — for elec- 
trotypes of Abel Morgan, D. D., Daniel Dodge, 
D. D. 3 and Rev. R .B. Cook; also to J. C. Hark- 
ness, A. M., of Harkness Academy, Wilmington, 
for the electrotype of Welsh Baptist Church. 



INTEODUOTIO^, 

By Prof. a. D. B. PEPPER, D. D., 
Crozer Theological Seminary, Delaware Co., Penn. 



Inspiration teaches us to forget the things 
which are behind, to reach forth unto those 
things which are before, and to press toward 
the mark. And well may it ; for to us, in the 
future only is achievement possible. The past 
will not come to us, nor shall we go to it. But 
to run well we must run not blindly, but intel- 
ligently. And as we know the future only by a 
study of the past, we must look back, in order 
to see ahead. Practical Wisdom ever lights 
her torch at the flame of history; thus he who 
best remembers " things which are behind n for 
instruction, best forgets them for attainment. 
This is clearly seen from the structure of Holy 
Scripture, in which historical record is domi- 
nant in influence and predominant in quantity. 
From out that book homely and lowly events, 
l * 5 



b INTRODUCTION. 

told in a plain and simple way, cast a guiding 
light for all the ages to come. 

This little History of the Delaware Baptists 
thus commends itself in the very fact that it 
is a history. And truly it well deserves the 
name. The author, admirably qualified and 
situated for its preparation, has spared no time, 
labor, or expense to make it an exact exhibit 
of the actual course of events. His facts are 
not his inventions. Hence the lesson brought 
to us is not his, but theirs. Hence the voice 
which speaks to us is that, not of man, but of 
providence, which is the voice of God. 

Yet the book is not a mere heap of dead 
facts, a pile of dry bones. History is a life. 
Historic events are the result and manifestation 
of spirit and power. They are bound together 
organically by a vital principle, and constitute 
a genuine development. Were this not so, they 
would have no meaning for living men in the 
guidance of their lives. The writer of history 
recognizes this life, grasps, holds, and shows 
it, and thus aids his readers in understanding 
the past. So does this little work come to us, 
not simply as a depository of facts, but also as 
a manifestation of their principle and meaning. 



INTRODUCTION. ( 

The presentation, though concise, is clear, im- 
partial, and comprehensive. 

Baptist history in Delaware has a character 
and value all its owu. It is unique. It is not 
distinguished simply by the place of its enact- 
ment, a corner cut off from a uniform piece of 
cloth. Its lessons are its own, and it teaches 
them in its own way. One lesson, especially, 
of utmost import it makes solemnly and sadly 
prominent. Perhaps nowhere else in this coun- 
try has Antinomianism, with its natural, if not 
inseparable, attendants of anti-Missionism, anti- 
Sunday-school-ism, and all the other kindred 
anti-isms, so impressively by its fruits proved 
its origin, nature, and doom. In doing this it 
lias also proved with like certainty its antag- 
onism to the genuine Baptist faith and prac- 
tice. AVhile the earliest and the latest Baptists 
are one in spirit and doctrine, they are both 
irreconcilably in antagonism with this distor- 
tion of divine truth. Its defenders may claim 
and receive the Baptist name, but they have 
no right to it. It does not belong to them. 
That they wear it works mischief to those to 
whom it does belong, for it leads many to 
confound the true with the false, and un- 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

justly to regard the true as they justly do 
the false. 

But while this defection carries its lesson of 
humiliation and warning, there remains much 
equally instructive of which to be proud. He- 
roic men, able ministers of the New Testament, 
with fellow- workers of kindred spirit all astir 
with Christian enterprise, their hearts and hands 
always ready for every good work, sowed good 
seed in the soil of Delaware. That enemies 
from their own number, bearing their own 
name, afterward sowed tares almost to the 
destruction of the wheat, was not their fault. 
The record of their lives and works is an ample 
vindication of the Baptist name, and will be 
an inspiration to Baptist workers. 

Delaware needs, what God is giving her, a 
revival of the old cause and a resurrection of 
its old champions. Dr. J. D. Fulton once said 
that " a Baptist Church is an illuminated edition 
of the New Testament." Of the true idea of 
a Baptist Church, fully realized, this is hardly 
too much to say. Its members are all members 
of Christ's spiritual body. Its Head is Christ, 
and him only. Its law is the New Testament 
itself. Its authoritative Interpreter of the law 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

is the Holy Spirit, so enlightening all as to secure 
harmony of view and action. Its officers are 
presbyters, or bishops, and deacons. Its ordi- 
nances are the two prescribed in the New Tes- 
tament, observed as there given, administered 
to those only for whom they were given, to 
express the great spiritual facts and truths 
committed to them, and observed in the order 
fixed alike by their own nature and the word 
of inspiration. It holds itself and each of its 
members bound to do everything possible to 
put the gospel into all human hearts and 
forms of human life all the world over. 
Catholic in sympathies, its members love all 
God's children, whatever their names, and are 
ready to co-operate with them or anybody else 
in all good works, but refuse to countenance a 
subversion of Christ's revealed will, whether 
intentional or unintentional. This ideal church 
may be rare, but the present Baptists of Dela- 
ware intend to make it easy to find just such a 
church anywhere in the State. This little vol- 
ume is intended and is well fitted to become a 
help to this end. 



CONTENTS 



FAGE 

I. THE EAELY BAPTIST CHUECHES 14 

1. The Welsh Tract Church, 1701 14 

2. Labors of Baker and Hughes, 1775, 22 

3. The Sounds Church, 1779 27 

4. Broad Creek Church, 1781 28 

5. Cow Marsh Church, 1781... 30 

6. Bryn Zion Church, 1781 31 

7. Mispillion Church, 1783-1848 34 

8. Gravelly Branch Church, 1785 37 

9. The Bethel 38 

10. First Church, Wilmington, 1785 40 

11. Distinguished Men 51 

12. The Delaware Association, 1795 74 

n. THE LATEK BAPTIST CHUECHES 96 

1. Second Church, Wilmington, 1835 96 

2. Dover Church, 1852 103 

3. First German Church, Wilmington, 1856 107 

4. Delaware Avenue Church, Wilmington, 1865. 112 

11 



12 CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

5. Plymouth Church, 1867-1873 115 

6. Lincoln Church, 1869-1873 117 

7. Zion Church, 1871 118 

8. Wyoming Church, 1872 120 

9. Magnolia Church, 1873 121 

10. Milford Church, 1873 122 

11. Elm Street Church, Wilmington, 1873-1876... 123 

12. Shiloh Church, Wilmington, 1876 123 

13. New Castle Church, 1876 124 

14. Bethany Church, 1878 127 

15. Wilmington Baptist City Mission, 1870 130 

16. Wyoming Institute, 1869 130 

17. Delaware Baptist Union, 1878 132 

III. CONCLUSION. 143 



THE EARLY AND LATER 
DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 



In the fall of 1682, William Penn sailed up 
the Delaware to take charge in person of his 
large estates in the New World. He landed 
first at New Castle, Delaware, and then went 
on to Philadelphia. There were Baptists 
among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, 
for the Cold Spring Baptist Church was 
formed in 1685, and in 1688 the oldest existing 
Baptist Church in Pennsylvania, the Lower 
Dublin, at Pennypack, now in Philadelphia. 
The "Old Swedes' Church/' Wilmington, re- 
garded as " among the antiquities of American 
civilization," was built in 1698, or ten years 
later. As early as 1703 a Baptist Church ex- 
isted in Delaware. The Baptist churches first 
formed in this State were mostly of Welsh 

2 13 



14 THE EARLY AND LATER 

origin. The earlier churches became eventual- 
ly Antinomian in doctrine and practice, but the 
later churches have always been missionary. 
For other reasons, therefore, besides those of 
convenience and of origin, we treat them sepa- 
rately. At one period of their history these 
early churches were one in doctrine and practice 
with the Baptist churches of to-day. 

I.— THE EARLY BAPTIST CHURCHES. 
1. The Welsh Tract Church, 1701. 

For the origin of this, the first Baptist 
Church in the State, we must cross the Atlantic 
to Wales. In the spring of 1701, sixteen Bap- 
tists in the counties of Pembroke and Caer- 
marthen resolved to go to America. They 
formed themselves into a church, with Rev. 
Thomas Griffith, one of their number, as Pas- 
tor. They embarked at Milford Haven in June, 
1701, and have been properly styled a "church 
emigrant." They landed at Philadelphia, Sep- 
tember 8, 1701, where they were courteously 
received by the brethren, and advised to settle 
about Pennypack, to w T hich place they removed. 
They continued at Pennypack about a year and 
a half, during which time their church increased 




WELSH TRACT BAPTIST CHURCH, 
From Hill near Newark. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 15 

from sixteen to thirty-seven. Then they " took 
up " land in New Castle County — one of the 
three counties of Delaware then in Pennsyl- 
vania — from Messrs. Evans, Davis, and Willis, 
who had purchased upward of thirty thousand 
acres of William Penn, called the " Welsh 
Tract." To this they removed in 1703, leav- 
ing some of their number at Pennypack, and 
receiving while there accessions in return. At 
Iron Hill they built a small meeting-house, 
which occupied the site upon which the present 
one, erected in 1746, stands. It is in the neigh- 
borhood of Newark. In the yard around the 
church sleep the successive generations that 
have in their time and turn worshipped in that 
place. The new church was joined from time 
to time by others from Pennypack and from 
Wales. Many also united with them by bap- 
tism ; and, being aggressive, their principles 
soon spread in Delaware, and also into the ad- 
jacent parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland, 
and as far as South Carolina. The Welsh 
Tract Church was the mother of the London 
Tract (Pennsylvania) and the Duck Creek 
(Delaware) churches, and in some degree of 
the Wilmington, Cow Marsh, and Mispillion 



16 THE EARLY AND LATER 

churches (Delaware), since her pastors labored 
successfully in these latter places, and many of 
the converts, having united with that church, 
were dismissed at times to form the churches 
that were organized in these fields. 

In November, 1736, forty-eight members, 
says Edwards, under the leadership of Rev. 
Abel Morgan, " late of Middletown," were dis- 
missed to form the Welsh Neck Church, on 
Pedee River, South Carolina, where they had 
settled. Benedict gives James James, whose 
son Philip became their Pastor, as their leader, 
and as the date of the settlement 1737, and 
that of the formation of the church January, 
1738, and says that the number was thirty 
when organized. When he wrote, it was the 
largest as well as the oldest church in the 
Welsh Neck Association, which was composed 
of thirty-eight churches, and was the mother 
of all the churches in that region.* 

But to return. Says Morgan Edwards, in 
his manuscript ("Materials toward a History 
of the Baptists of Delaware," pp. 232, 233)": 
" Welsh Tract Church was the principal, if not 
sole, means of introducing singing, imposition 

* Benedict's History of the Baptists, pp. 704, 705, 710. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 17 

of hands, church covenants, etc. among the 
Baptists in the Middle States. The Century 
Confession was in America before the year 
1716, but without the articles which relate to 
those subjects." " That year they were inserted 
by Rev. Abel Morgan, who translated the Con- 
fession into Welsh, after being signed by one 
hundred and twenty-two of the members of 
the Welsh Tract Church. They were inserted 
in the next English edition, and adopted with 
the other articles by the Association [Philadel- 
phia] of 1742. Singing psalms met with op- 
position, especially at Cohansey, but laying on 
of hands on baptized believers, as such, gained 
acceptance with more difficulty, as appears from 
the following history, translated from 'Welsh 
Tract Church Book ' — that is, the church 
record, which up to 1732 was kept in Welsh : 
* We could not be in fellowship (at the Lord's 
Table) with our brethren in Pennepek and 
Philadelphia, because they did not hold to the 
lay ing-on-of -hands (on baptized believers) and 
some other particulars (as to church covenants, 
ruling elders, etc.) relating to a church/ " 

The difficulty increased, owing to the pres- 
ence among them of members who had joined 
2* B 



18 THE EARLY AND LATER 

them at Pennypack. It was settled by deputies 
at the house of Richard Miles, Radnor, Penn- 
sylvania, June 22, 1706, on the side of mutual 
forbearance, liberty, and union. When an 
effort was made three years after by some to 
reopen the matter, the church refused, saying, 
" We are satisfied that all was right, by the 
good effects that followed, for from that time 
forward our brethren held sweet communion 
together at the Lord's Table, and our minister 
was invited to preach and assisted at an ordina- 
tion at Pennepek after the death of our brother 
TVatts. He proceeded from thence to the Jer- 
seys, where he enlightened many in the good 
ways of the Lord, insomuch that, in three years 
after, all the ministers and about fifty-five pri- 
vate members had submitted to the ordinance." 
So it appears from Edwards, in the extract 
above, that the Welsh Tract Church numbered 
at least one hundred and twenty-two in 1716. 

Benedict says (page 304) : " The church is 
very handsomely endowed." According to 
Edwards, the endowment yielded an annual 
income of one hundred pounds, or about five 
hundred dollars. The pulpit was filled by 
good and able men of Welsh extraction for 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 19 

about seventy years. The following is a list 
of the Pastors of the church, with dates indi- 
cating the period of their service, and in the 
order of their succession, as far as we can as- 
certain : Rev. Thomas Griffith * was born in 
Wales in 1645, and emigrated with the church, 
which he served as Pastor for twenty-four years. 
He died at Pennypack July 25, 1725. He 
visited New Jersey in 1706 and 1711, and 
taught the people, stirring up young men to 
use their gifts, and thus many churches were 
soon supplied with pastors from their own 
members. 

Rev. Elisha Thomas was born in Wales in 
1674, and emigrated with the church, being 
one of its constituent members. He died Nov. 
7, 1730, and was buried in the churchyard, 
" where/' says Edwards, " a handsome tomb is 
erected to his memory." This tomb, still pre- 
served, would hardly be regarded now, after the 
lapse of one hundred and fifty years, as being 
" handsome n with its rude carvings of an open 
Bible and inscriptions — 

" With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture decked." 

* Mr. Edwards writes this name Griffiths. 



20 THE EARLY AND LATER 

Rev. Enoch Morgan, the next Pastor, was 
also a constituent member of the church, and 
came over with them. He was a half-brother 
to Rev. Benjamin Griffith, Pastor of Montgom- 
ery Baptist Church, Pennsylvania, who was 
also for years Moderator of the Philadelphia 
Association, and a brother of the Rev. Abel 
Morgan, author of the Welsh Concordance. 
Their father was a famous Baptist minister in 
Wales, named Morgan ap Rhyddarch. Enoch 
Morgan was born in Wales in 1676, died March 
25, 1740, and was buried in the churchyard at 
Welsh Tract, where his tomb still stands. 

Rev. Owen Thomas was born hi Wales in 
1676, and came to America in 1707. He be- 
came Pastor in 1740, resigned in 1748, and 
died in 1760. He was "held in dear remem- 
brance by all that knew him," and was styled 
"an excellent man." 

Rev. David Davis, born in Wales in 1708, 
came to America in 1710, was baptized Jan- 
uary, 1729, and ordained at Welsh Tract, 1734, 
at which time he became Pastor, serving the 
church thirty-five years. He died in 1769, and 
was buried in the graveyard of the church, where 
" a handsome stone covers his remains also." 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 21 

Rev. John Sutton was the first Pastor of the 
church who was born in America. He became 
Pastor, Xovernber 3, 1770, and resigned to go 
to Virginia in 1777. He was a native of New 
Jersey, and a man of considerable distinction. 

Rev. John Boggs, his successor, was an able- 
bodied man, says the Chronicle, hence he travel- 
led much, preaching in the surrounding country. 
He was born in 1741, bred a Presbyterian, 
baptized at Welsh Tract, November 3, 1771, 
was ordained and took charge of the church, 
December 5, 1781, and died there in 1802. 

Rev. Gideon Farrell was born in Talbot Coun- 
ty, Maryland, in 1763. He was bred a Quaker, 
but was baptized by Philip Hughes in 1770 at 
the Sounds, and ordained at Churchill in 1779. 
Mr. Farrell had preached about once a month 
for the church for seven years, aiding the Pas- 
tor, before he was invested with the pastoral 
office. He remained Pastor until his death, in 
1820 or 1821. 

Rev. Stephen W. Woolford served them from 
1822 to 1830.* 

* Taken from the Minutes of the Delaware Association. 
The Delaware Association Minutes for 1837, '38, '73, and 
'76 inaccessible. 



22 THE EARLY AND LATER 

Elder Samuel Trott, from 1831 to 1832.*— 
Elder William K. Robinson from 1833 to 1836,* 
or later. He died in 1843 or 1844. — Elder 
Thomas Barton from 1839* until his death in 
1869 or 1870. He had then been sixty years 
in the Christian ministry, forty-five of which 
were spent within the bounds of the Delaware 
Association as Pastor of three of its churches. 
—Elder G. W. Staton in 1871 and 1872.*— 
Elder William Grafton appears as Pastor in 
1877.— No Pastor in 1879.f 

2. Labors of Baker and Hughes, 1778. 
There came from Virginia into Delaware, at 
the close of 1778, Rev. Elijah Baker, and in 
the spring of 1779 he was followed by Rev. 
Philip Hughes from the same State. They 
labored together "as evangelists" for about 
twelve months, preaching at Broad Creek, 
Gravelly Branch, and other places. Many 

* Taken from the Minutes of the Delaware Association. 
The Delaware Association Minutes for 1837, '38, 73, and 
'76 inaccessible. 

f As far as can be learned from the Minutes of the Del- 
aware Association accessible to the writer, this is a correct 
list. If there is any error, doubtless it occurs after 1870, 
to which date it is accurate. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 23 

converts were "baptized on profession of faith 
and repentance." They prepared materials and 
resolved to build churches. At first they and 
their disciples went by the name of Separate 
Baptists, but the distinction was soon dropped. 
They were not only well received and their 
labors approved, but, in their efforts to save 
souls, were aided on every hand by Baptist 
ministers and laymen, who helped them also 
in the constitution of churches and in the or- 
dination of ministers. And none were more 
zealous in this united effort than Messrs. John 
Boggs and Thomas Fleeson, Pastors respective- 
ly of Welsh Tract and London Tract churches. 

Messrs. Baker and Hughes were instrumental 
in founding twenty-one churches in Virginia, 
Maryland, and Delaware, and spent much time 
in " visiting them, as fathers do their children." 
The Salisbury Association was organized by 
them. It takes its name from a town in Mary- 
land near the Delaware line, where this Associa- 
tion was formed, and distinguished as the birth- 
place of Rev. Noah Davis, the founder of the 
American Baptist Publication Society. 

Mr. Baker's life is recorded both by J. B. 
Taylor, D. D., in his Lives of Virginia Baptist 



24 THE EAKLY AND LATER 

Ministers, and Rev. R. B. Semple in his His- 
tory of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in 
Virginia. The latter publishes a letter from 
Dr. Robert Lemon, for years Moderator of the 
Salisbury Association, at whose house he died 
November 6, 1798, testifying to his exalted 
Christian character, the faithfulness and power 
of his preaching, and his triumph in the hour 
of death, when he " seemed rather to be trans- 
lated than to suffer pain in his dissolution ; ' — 
(p. 397). Morgan Edwards, in his " Materials 
. . . Delaware," pp. 247, 248, gives us an inter- 
esting account as to how Mr. Baker came to 
leave Virginia, where he was born in 1742, 
and baptized by the famous Samuel Harris in 
1769, and where he suffered much for the word 
of God. He came into Delaware upon "an 
invitation from Thomas Batston, Esq., who 
had heard him preach through the grates in 
Accomac jail about the year 1777. The rude 
Virginians, in order to get rid of him, put him 
on board a privateer, where he suffered much 
abuse, but he continued to sing, and pray, and 
exhort notwithstanding, till the crew was tired, 
and then let him alone, saying, ( He is not worth 
a curse ;' but the privateer being detained long 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 25 

in the harbor by contrary wind, the crew 
suspected that the cause was that preaching 
fellow, and therefore put him on board another 
vessel ; but the wind continuing contrary, that 
vessel began to be of the same mind with the 
privateer, and therefore shifted him to a third, 
and the third put him ashore. When Jonah 
found himself on the dry land he complied 
with Squire Batston's invitation." And be it 
said to the credit of Delaware that she had no 
prison, like Virginia, nor whipping-post, like 
Massachusetts, for Baptists, who were left un- 
disturbed in their views and practices. And 
Delaware has to thank for this liberty her gov- 
ernor, William Penn, whose father, Admiral 
Penn of the English navy, tradition says, was 
a Baptist. And Penn was only exemplifying 
the time -honored Baptist principle of equal 
liberty for all when he came to establish u a 
civil society of men enjoying the highest degree 
of freedom and happiness." 

The account that Mr. Edwards gives of Mr. 
Baker's co-laborer is not without interest. He 
says : " Rev. Philip Hughes shares in the praise 
of Mr. Baker, as they were fellow-laborers in 
most of the good that was done in this and 
3 



26 THE EAKLY AND LATER 

other States. He was born in Colver County, 
November 28, 1750, bred a Churchman, avow- 
ed his present sentiments, August 10, 1773, 
when he was baptized by Rev. David Thomp- 
son, called to the ministry in Rowan ty Church, 
was ordained at an Association held in Vir- 
ginia, August 13, 1776. . . . He published a 
volume of hymns in 1782, many of which are 
of his own composing; also an answer to a 
Virginia clergyman on the subject of baptism 
in 1784. He also was obliged twice to appear 
on the stage to dispute on the subject — once at 
Fouling Creek in Maryland in 1782. His an- 
tagonist was a Methodist preacher of the name 
of Willis. Victory was announced by both 
parties, but facts varied much, for after the dis- 
pute three class-leaders and many others were 
baptized by Mr. Hughes. The other dispute 
was held near the mouth of [the] Potomac, in 
Virginia, in the year 1785. Mr. Hughes's 
challenger was one Coles, another Methodist 
preacher. Here the victory was decisive, for 
twenty-two of the audience were baptized the 
next day, and soon after as many more by Rev. 
Lewis Lunsford."— Materials, Del, pp. 248, 
249. 



delaware baptists. 27 

3. The Sounds Church, 1779. 
The second Baptist Church in Delaware was 
the Sounds, in Baltimore Hundred, Sussex 
County. In 1791 it had no "temporalities," 
no meeting-house, no fixed salary. They held 
their meetings in the dwelling's of Tull and 
AVilegoos. It has ceased to exist. It was 
formed August 12, 1779, with twenty -five 
members, through the labors of Messrs. Baker 
and Hughes, and was one of the ten that- 
formed the Salisbury Association in 1782. 
From this church, says Edwards, sprang six 
ministers : John, Samuel, and Jonathan Gib- 
bins, Eliphaz Dazey, Gideon Farrell, and Ed- 
ward Carter Dingle, the latter a son of a cler- 
gyman of the Church of England. Messrs. 
Baker and Hughes first supplied it with preach- 
ing ; then the neighboring pastors. The Rev. 
Jonathan Gibbins was their first Pastor. He 
was born in Broad Creek Hundred, December 
16, 1751 ; called to the ministry in this church, 
and ordained April 16, 1787, by Eev. Messrs. 
Hughes and Dazey, when he assumed pas- 
toral charge of this and of the Broad Creek 
Church. 



28 the early and later 

4. Broad Creek Church, 1781. 
This church was in Sussex County, and was 
the third organized in the State. It was con- 
stituted May 31, 1781, through the labors of 
Messrs. Hughes and Baker, with forty-seven 
members. In 1791 they had no house of wor- 
ship, but worshipped in the dwellings of the 
members in rotation, and had the Lord's Supper 
administered quarterly. The minister's " in- 
come, twenty pounds, including perquisites." 
It helped to form the Salisbury Association. 
It decreased in ten years from forty-seven to 
twenty-three, because several families emigrated 
hence to Georgia and other Southern parts about 
the year 1784, and a considerable number were 
detached to form a church, in 1785, at Gravel- 
ly Branch. The first ministers of this church 
were its founders. Rev. John Gibbins was the 
first Pastor. He was born in the neighbor- 
hood, raised a Presbyterian, and was one of 
the first converts of Messrs. Baker and Hughes. 
He was called to the ministry by the Sounds 
Church. After his ordination at Fouling Creek 
he travelled abroad till 1784, when he returned 
and became Pastor of this church. He rem- 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 29 

edied the defects of his early education by per- 
sonal industry so far as to be master of his 
mother tongue. Says Morgan Edwards (" Ma- 
terials, Delaware," p. 253): "In a conversation 
I had with him in 1786 he lamented that he 
could not read his Testament in the language 
of Christ and his apostles, rather than depend 
on translations, without which knowledge of 
Greek he deemed it impossible to study the 
gospel critically. He was therefore determined 
to visit Rhode Island College, but the small- 
pox broke his resolution at Wilmington, where 
he died in 1786." This shows that special 
training for the gospel ministry was appreciated 
in Delaware at an early day. He was brother 
to Rev. Samuel Gibbins, to whose labors the 
churches in Sussex County, Delaware, and in 
other States, owe great obligation. Of the Gib- 
bins family, as of the household of Stephanas, 
it may be said, " They have addicted them- 
selves to the ministry of the saints." 

His successor, Rev. John Benson, was born 
in Worcester County, Maryland. He was bred 
a Presbyterian. After he became a Baptist he 
employed himself in reading sermons to the 
people when no minister happened to be pres- 

3* 



30 THE EAKLY AND LATEK 

ent, and afterward began to preach in the as- 
semblies of the church. He continued this 
course till June 14, 1790, when he was ordain- 
ed by Rev. Messrs. Hughes, John Pollard, 
Jonathan Gibbins, and Edward Carter Dingle, 
and at once took pastoral charge of this church 
in conjunction with that of Gravelly Branch. 
He was assisted in his work by Deacon Joshua 
Gibbins. He died in 1818 or '19. 

Rev. Joseph Flood, born at Welsh Tract, 
November 2, 1767, converted and baptized 
there in 1790, and ordained at Cow Marsh, 
December 11, 1791, became Pastor, August 
11, 1792. 

5. Cow Maesh Chukch, 1781. 
The fourth church constituted was the Cow 
Marsh (or Mount Moriah) Church, in Kent 
County, July 18, 1781. John Sutton, Pastor 
at Welsh Tract, preached here in 1780. Then 
Messrs. Isaac Stelle, K. Kelsay, William Worth, 
and others performed a like service. In 1782, 
James Sutton came and baptized. Others were 
baptized here and at Welsh Tract, and twenty- 
six were formed into a church by Messrs. Boggs 
and Fleeson. Seven of these were from the 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 31 

Welsh Tract Church. They joined the Phil- 
adelphia Association in 1786; had no house of 
worship in 1791, but met for worship at the 
dwelling of Job Meredith, Sr. They were pre- 
paring to build in 1781, and had a considerable 
sum subscribed, but their active friend, Luff* 
Meredith, died, when the design was abandon- 
ed. They were talking of putting it into exe- 
cution when Edwards wrote in 1791. The 
Mispillion is in part the offspring of this 
church. Rev. Eliphaz Dazey became Pastor, 
April 21, 1787, taking upon him also the 
oversight of the Duck Creek Church. He 
was born October 26, 1754, in Sussex County, 
Delaware, and ordained July 12, 1784. He 
resigned October 25, 1788, but revisited them 
for a considerable time. Messrs. Farrell and 
Dewees administered the ordinances among 
them for some time. 

6. Bryn Zion Chuech, 1781. 
The Duck Creek (or Bryn Zion) Church, 
Kent County, was organized November 24, 1781. 
It was a branch of the Welsh Tract Church 
from 1733 until its constitution into a church. 
This church consisted of three branches — the 



32 THE EARLY AND LATER 

one near Duck Creek, another at East Landing, 
and the third at Georgetown. The latter branch 
originated through the preaching of Messrs. 
Fleeson and Boggs, who went there by invita- 
tion of a Mr. Parsons, a Methodist. They re- 
peated their visit, and other ministers succeeded 
them, until sixteen persons w T ere converted and 
baptized, and joined the Duck Creek Church. 

The tract of land known as Duck Creek 
Hundred w T as settled in 1733 by a number of 
Welsh families, some of them Independents 
and some Baptists. Of the Baptists, there 
were eight or ten families who came from the 
Welsh Tract. The Independents had a church 
and a house, which they called Mount Zion. 
This church wasted away, and the Baptists wor- 
shipped in their house while it stood, and re- 
built it in 1771, when the lot was conveyed 
to them. The house was of brick, thirty by 
twenty-five feet, and, as the historian says, " ac- 
commodated with a stove." It still stands, and 
is in the neighborhood of Smyrna. They had 
preaching before their organization by Rev. 
Enoch Morgan, Rev. Hugh Davis of the 
Great Valley, Pennsylvania, and Rev. David 
Davis of Welsh Tract. Rev. Griffith Jones 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 33 

settled among them in 1749, and continued 
until his death in 1754. In the spring of 1766 
Rev. William Davis of New Britain, Pennsyl- 
vania, settled among them, but soon died. Then 
Rev. Messrs. David Davis, John Sutton, John 
Boggs, and others ministered there till they 
numbered thirty in all, when they petitioned 
the Welsh Tract Church for permission to be- 
come a separate church, having continued a 
branch of the Welsh Tract for forty-eight years 
— 1733 to 1781 — and were received into the 
Philadelphia Association in 1786. In 1791 
the membership was seventy-four, and the min- 
ister's revenue was eighty pounds, or about four 
hundred dollars. While the Independent 
Church flourished the Baptists often worship- 
ped and had administered to them the Lord's 
Supper in private houses, as in those of James 
Hyatt and Evan David Hughs. Their Pastors 
after organization were Rev. Eliphaz Dazey, 
who resigned October 25, 1787, and Rev. 
Messrs. James Jones, John Patten, and Gideon 
Farrell, who were co- Pastors. Dr. and Rev. 
James Jones was born at Welsh Tract, April 6, 
1756, and died in 1829. He was there licensed 
to preach November 2, 1782, and was educated 
c 



34 THE EARLY AND LATER 

at Newark Academy, where he also, as Ed- 
wards says, studied "physic." April 7, 1789, 
he took joint oversight of the church with Rev. 
John Patten, who was ordained the same day. 
The latter was born at Cow Marsh, December 
15, 1752, and called to the ministry and licensed 
by the church there June 14, 1788. Rev. 
Gideon Farrell, associated with them, has been 
mentioned in connection with the Welsh Tract 
Church. 

7. Mispillion Church, 1783-1848. 
The Mispillion, in Kent County, was the 
sixth church, and was organized May 10, 1783. 
Messrs. Boggs and Fleeson preached there in 
1781. They repeated their visits, and baptized 
some candidates, five of whom joined the church 
at Cow Marsh. Messrs. Baker and Hughes 
then labored here and baptized, when twenty 
converts were collected and constituted a church. 
They joined the Philadelphia Association in 
1785, but in 1789 requested release to unite 
with the Salisbury Association. They had no 
house in 1791, and worshipped in the house 
of C. Dewees. Says Mr. Edwards (p. 270) : 
"This church hath, in eight years, decreased 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 35 

from twenty to eleven, owing to deaths, emi- 
grations, and no additions equal to losses ; and 
it is to be feared it will soon cease to be, as 
their minister intends going to the Western 
World ;" by which was probably meant Ohio. 
The church continued to exist, however, and it 
was not until 1848 that its name disappeared 
from the Minutes of the Delaware Association. 
The Rev. A. S. Bastian, Milford, near which 
the Mispillion Church is located, sends the fol- 
lowing particulars : The church was incorpo- 
rated in 1796, when they began to build their 
first meeting-house. They met for business on 
Saturday noon, when they usually had a ser- 
mon. The first board of Trustees consisted of 
Peter King, Vincent Beswicks, and Cornelius 
Dewees. The latter was one of the charter 
members of the church, and served as Clerk of 
the church until his death in 1837. The only 
surviving members of the church are Miss 
Martha Cathel, her sister, Mrs. Mary B. Clif- 
ton, and a Mrs. Stettzer, who removed to the 
West years ago. Daniel Clifton, Esq., elected 
Trustee in 1839, is the only Trustee left. The 
old church-building, with its high pulpit, re- 
mains, and is occupied by an aged colored man 



36 THE EARLY AND LATER 

and his family as a dwelling. Being a cripple, 
and living in the old church-building surround- 
ed by graves and situated in a lonely place by 
the edge of the forest, he is dreaded, and re- 
garded by those of his neighbors who are su- 
perstitious as a wizard. 

Rev. E. Dazey and Rev. Joshua Dewees 
were Pastors of the church. The latter was 
born in the neighborhood, May 3, 1742. He 
was bred a Presbyterian, called to the ministry 
of this church, October 29, 1785, and ordained 
by Messrs. Fleeson, Boggs, and Dazey. " Mr. 
Dewees's transition from a state of nature to a 
state of grace," says Morgan Edwards (p. 272), 
" was tedious and distressing. His relation of 
that transition put me in mind of what John 
Bunyan saith of himself in his Grace Abound- 
ing, etc. But it will not be long before he 
makes another transit from a state of grace to 
a state of glory, for his lungs are ulcerated." 
The above Pastors were followed by Rev. 
Joseph Flood, who served the church for 
many years; Rev. S. Snead, 1804; Rev. Sam- 
uel Broadaway, from 1807 to 1809 ; and Rev. 
Peter Meredith. 



delaware baptists. 37 

8. Gravelly Branch Church, 1785. 

The Gravelly Branch, Sussex County, was 
the seventh church organized through the min- 
istry of Messrs. Baker and Hughes. When 
they had baptized about twenty-three converts 
they constituted them into a church, July 30, 
1785. It entered the Salisbury Association the 
same year. A revival took place in this church 
in 1788, whereby thirty-five members were add- 
ed to it. Messrs. Baker and Hughes, as was 
their custom with the churches they gathered, 
labored with this people for a while. Rev. 
Jonathan Gibbins then became Pastor, and in 
turn was succeeded by Rev. John Benson. The 
Pastor's salary was then (1791) forty pounds, 
or about two hundred dollars. They had no 
house, but worshipped in the dwelling of John 
Willis, "where," says Edwards (p. 267), "a 
movable pulpit stands." They were then pre- 
paring to build. They afterward built, but the 
church has ceased to exist. Though in early 
times some of these churches had no meeting- 
house, yet eventually each church succeeded in 
building one for its own accommodation. 



38 the early and later 

9. The Bethel, built 1786; constituted 
1839; dissolved 1872. 
The Welsh Tract Church had out-stations, 
from which large accessions of members were 
received, " in the town of Elk," Maryland, and 
in New Castle County, Delaware, which latter 
they called Bethel, and where, in 1786, they 
built a house. The history of Bethel is some- 
what interesting. David Morton, a Baptist, 
coming into New Castle County to live, invited 
Mr. Boggs, the Pastor, to preach at his house. 
The audience so increased that a private house 
would not hold them. " One day," says Mr. 
Edwards (p. 236), " as Mr. Boggs was preach- 
ing out of doors, a storm arose and dispersed 
the assembly. This induced two wealthy men 
present (Messrs. Porter and Louden) to talk of 
building a meeting-house in the place. The 
talk had at first the air of pleasantry, but ended 
in seriousness, and a house was built in 1786, 
measuring thirty-two feet by twenty-eight, and 
denominated Bethel." It was not, however, 
until 1839 that it was received as a church of 
sixteen members into the Delaware Association. 
We have no definite record, but it had prob- 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 39 

ably just been constituted. After thirty-two 
years its name appears for the last time in the 
Minutes of the Delaware Association of 1871, 
with five members. 

From the above it seems that Messrs. Baker 
and Hughes were instrumental in the formation 
of the Sounds, Broad Creek, Gravelly Branch, 
and Mispillion churches, but not directly in that 
of the Cow Marsh and Duck Creek. Never- 
theless, I have included all under the head of 
their work, because their coming and labors 
led to the revival among the Baptists that re- 
sulted in the formation of all these churches 
and the raising up of a numerous and zealous 
ministry. The origin of the Baptists in Wil- 
mington I shall consider under a separate head, 
though Mr. Hughes was one of those who la- 
bored successfully in that city. 

The writer has not deemed it necessary up 
to this point to make material addition to what 
Edwards and Benedict have already furnished 
concerning these churches. They seem, how- 
ever, at this point, destined to play an import- 
ant part in the religious history of Delaware^ 
and be great in number and influence, if they 
only continue as they have begun in the Mis- 



40 THE EARLY AND LATER 

sionary spirit and the aggressive labors that God 
ever blesses with success. 

10. First Church, Wilmington, 1785. 

This church was formed October 8, 1785. 
Their brick house of worship, thirty-five by 
forty feet, was built in the same year, and still 
stands. A graveyard surrounds the church. 
Says Morgan Edwards (pp. 273-275) : " There 
were Baptists in Wilmington long before a Bap- 
tist Church existed in town ; particularly Mrs. 
Ann Bush, a member of Welsh Tract Church ; 
she settled here in 1748. In 1764, Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Way, a member of Brandywine Church, 
came to the place. About 1769, Mr. John 
Stow, a member of Philadelphia Church, moved 
hither with his family. The residing of these 
Baptists in town induced Baptist ministers to 
preach here in a transient way, but they made 
no proselytes, insomuch that it was supposed 
that Wilmington was no soil to plant Baptists 
in. The first time that a prospect opened to 
the contrary w T as in 1782, when Rev. Philip 
Hughes came to print a volume of hymns. 
He preached here and gained some attention." 
In the month of April following (1783), Mr. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 41 

Thomas Ainger and family came from Phila- 
delphia " to Wilmington Bridge." He was " a 
visible member" of Arch Street Presbyterian 
Church, Philadelphia, but his wife was a pro- 
fessed Baptist. And now, as Edwards says, 
"What Baptists could not do a Presbyterian 
did for them." It was mainly through him 
that a Baptist Church was established in Wil- 
mington. This family invited Rev. Messrs. 
Fleeson and Boggs to preach at their house. 
" They complied, and serious impressions were 
made on the minds of the hearers. Mr. Fleeson 
judged it best to hold meetings in the town, 
which was done. And in the spring of 1784, 
Mr. Ainger and his family moved hither." 
"His family, including his apprentices, was 
then large, wherein he constantly held family 
worship, which consisted in reading the Bible, 
singing psalms, and prayers. One Sunday 
evening he read the twentieth chapter of Rev- 
elation, and found a strong impulse to com- 
ment upon it, particularly on the twelfth verse. 
This diffused a seriousness through the family, 
and laid a foundation for a religious society in 
which good was done. Two of his apprentices 
and some others attribute their conversion to 



42 THE EARLY AND LATER 

this society. It quickened four more who had 
been converted previously. The converts were 
baptized by Rev. John Boggs, May 25, 1784. 
Their names were — Thomas Ainger, Rachel 
Ainger, Noah Cross, and Mrs. Ferris/' 

"The same year (1784) Rev. P. Hughes 
came to town to print his book on Baptism, 
which detained him near two months. He 
preached all the while, sometimes at Rev. Mr. 
McKannan's meeting-house, which still stands 
near the old Baptist meeting-house, and some- 
times at the town school-house, which collected 
many hearers. By him were baptized four per- 
sons who had been awakened at said society — 
viz. Robert Smith, John Redman, James Mc- 
Louchlan, Henry Walker." " Messrs. Fleeson 
and Boggs continued to visit the place alternate- 
ly — viz. one each week. More were baptized 
by them, insomuch that a sufficient number of 
materials for a church were prepared at Wil- 
mington." The candidates for baptism were 
baptized in the Brandywine. Some of those 
baptized — nine in number — had united with 
the Welsh Tract Church. These, obtaining 
letters of dismission for the purpose, were con- 
stituted, with six others, into a " gospel church," 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 43 

October 8, 1785, and united with the Philadel- 
phia Association the next year. The council 
was composed of the following : Messrs. Flee- 
son and Boggs, Abel Griffiths, and Eliphaz 
Dazey. The constituent members, sixteen in 
number, were as follows : Thomas Ainger, 
James McLaughlin, Thomas Williams, Henry 
Walker, Joseph Tomlinson, John Redman, 
Robert Smith, John McKim, Curtis Gilbert, 
Sarah Stow, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Mattson, 
and four others who, it seems, were Baptists 
before this — John Stow, Elizabeth Way, 
Thomas Stow, and Abigail Ainger. Four 
of the constituent members became ministers 
— viz. Thomas Ainger, James McLaughlin, 
Henry Walker, and Curtis Gilbert. In five 
years this church increased to fifty-four mem- 
bers. 

The publication of Rev. P. Hughes's book 
on Baptism in Wilmington, and the earnest 
preaching of believer's baptism by him and 
others, which led to the formation of the Bap- 
tist Church, aroused great opposition. The 
pulpits of two churches thundered against the 
Baptists and their principles, but there was 
one man, Father McKannan, Pastor of the 



44 THE EAELY AND LATER 

First Presbyterian Church, who acted wisely ; 
he not only invited Mr. Hughes to preach for 
him, but this " veteran divine taught his au- 
dience to love their neighbors as themselves" 
(Edwards, 278). A few months ago (1879) 
the writer was present at the dedication of the 
new lecture-room of the First Presbyterian 
Church of Wilmington. The Pastor, Rev. B. 
F. Duval, pointed to some beautiful Corinthian 
columns that sustained the roof, remarking that 
they had adorned the old meeting-house, now 
used by the Historical Society of Delaware, 
when " Father McKannan " preached in it over 
one hundred years ago. When the writer's 
turn came to speak he did not fail to refer to 
the noble Christian charity of the " veteran 
divine " displayed upon the occasion mentioned. 
Rev. Thomas Fleeson, Pastor of London 
Tract Church, was called for six months, and 
then for six months more, but regarding it 
as an unlimited call, removed with his fam- 
ily to Wilmington. He had been instru- 
mental in gathering the church and build- 
ing their house. He and Mr. Boggs not only 
preached for the church, but collected funds for 
the church-building. The first stone was laid 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 45 

by Mr. Fleeson, who made u an excellent pray- 
er upon the occasion." "He saved a great 
part of his time to officiate to them (in connec- 
tion with the church of which he was Pastor) 
between the constitution in 1785 and 1788, 
when one of their own members rose up to take 
pastoral charge of them — viz. Rev. Thomas 
Ainger" (Morgan Edwards, 273-275). 

There are some particulars concerning the 
founder and Pastor of this church worth re- 
lating. Thomas Ainger was born in Philadel- 
phia, May 12, 1755, bred a Presbyterian, bap- 
tized on profession of his faith and repentance, 
May 25, 1784, called to the ministry April 25, 
1786, licensed May 19, 1787, and ordained by 
Rev. Messrs. Samuel Jones, David Jones, and 
Eliphaz Dazey, October 28, 1788, when he be- 
came Pastor of the church, in which office he 
continued until his death in 1797. He was 
buried in the churchyard, where his tomb re- 
mains. He had serious impressions made on 
his mind in early life, which wore off, but re- 
turned in manhood with more vigor and per- 
manency. " He followed them to full commu- 
nion in the Presbyterian Church, but was all 
the while a stranger to the liberty of the chil- 



46 THE EARLY AND LATER 

dren of God." This liberty he obtained about 
the spring of 1780 from reading the eighth 
chapter of Romans, and particularly the first 
verse: "There is, therefore, now no condem- 
nation to them which are in Christ." This he 
read with new eyes. His fears vanished, and 
confidence came in their place. He had fre- 
quent misgivings of heart in reference to the 
validity of infant baptism while a Presbyterian, 
which he strove to suppress, but happening to 
be on the banks of the Schuylkill when Bap- 
tism was administered, he saw it to be so con- 
formable to gospel history that he resolved to 
go and do likewise. He administered the or- 
dinance himself afterward in the same river. 
He was one of the council that recognized 
the Roxborough Church, and was the first 
Baptist minister (according to Rev. D. 
Spencer) to preach at Chestnut Hill, Phila- 
delphia. 

" For a few years after Mr. Ainger's death 
the church was supplied by the occasional la- 
bors of Mr. John Boggs, Sr., Gideon Farrell, 
John Ellis, and Joseph Flood. Mr. Flood 
did, indeed, exercise the pastoral care of it for 
a short time, when he was excluded for im- 




DANIEL DODGE, D. D. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 47 

moral conduct — ( for holding and preaching 
the doctrine of polygamy ' (Minutes Delaware 
Association, 1803) — and afterward went to 
Norfolk, Virginia, and was the cause of much 
evil and confusion. But during the ministry 
of Mr. Flood, notwithstanding the blemishes 
of his character, and before they were known, 
there was a very considerable revival, and 
many were added to the church " (Benedict's 
Abridged Baptist History, p. 304). Thomas 
Ainger was Pastor till 1797. Five years later, 
Rev. Daniel Dodge came, whose long and suc- 
cessful pastorate of seventeen years terminated 
in his resignation in 1819. He baptized two 
hundred and fifty-nine converts while here. 
His influence was great for good while in Del- 
aware, and he is held in loving remembrance 
by the people who knew him. There are but 
few such persons living, linking the present 
generation with the past ; among these few is 
the venerable William Almond, father of the 
present Mayor of Wilmington. They love to 
recall the eloquence and zeal of this man of 
God. Often have they seen him come down 
from his high pulpit after preaching, singing 
an inspiring hymn and urging sinners to come 



48 THE EARLY AND LATER 

to Christ. Mr. Dodge was born at Annapolis 
Royal, Nova Scotia, in 1775, but his father 
was a native of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Most 
of his time was spent in the United States. 
He professed conversion at the age of eighteen, 
and united with the church in Woodstock, 
Vermont, then under the charge of Elder 
Elisha Ransom. In 1797, he went to Balti- 
more, and preached in various places in Mary- 
land and Virginia before he settled in Wil- 
mington. He was ordained in 1801 in Anne 
Arundel County, Maryland. From Wilming- 
ton he went to Piscataway, New Jersey, where 
he was Pastor for thirteen years. He was Pas- 
tor next at Newark, New Jersey, for six years, 
and then of the Second Church, Philadelphia, 
from 1838 to 1850, following the Rev. T. J. 
Kitts in the pastorate of that church, with 
which he remained until his death. In 1839, 
he was elected Moderator of the Philadelphia 
Association. In 1812, while he was Pastor of 
the Wilmington Church, that church sought to 
withdraw from the Delaware Association, but 
was prevailed upon by the earnest solicitation 
of the Association to remain. 

Rev. Samuel R. Green was Pastor from 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 49 

1819* to 1824*. He was excluded from the 
church for dishonesty. Rev. David Lewis 
followed in 1824, and was Pastor to 1826.* 
Rev. John D. Strumpfer appears from the 
Minutes of the Association to have been Pastor 
in 1826* and 1827,* but some deny it. He 
was excluded. Rev. John P. Peck worth served 
the church from 1827* to 1838* with but a 
short intermission while he was in Alexandria. 
He was born in England in 1770, and came to 
Philadelphia at the age of thirteen. At seven- 
teen he was baptized in Wilmington, and called 
to the ministry in the Philadelphia Church dur- 
ing the administration of Rev. Thomas Ustick. 
He was a constituent member of the Third 
Church, Philadelphia, and its first Pastor, ser- 
ving from September, 1809, to December 20, 
1822. He refused a salary of two hundred 
dollars from another church, preferring to serve 
the Third Church without pay, which he did 
three years, working at his trade, which was 
shoemaking, during the week, and preaching 
upon the Lord's Day. During his pastorate 
in Philadelphia he baptized two hundred and 

* Dates taken from the Minutes of the Delaware As- 
sociation. 

5 1) 



50 THE EARLY AND LATER 

thirty-seven and received by letter forty-six, 
and a meeting-house for the church was also 
erected. It is worthy of special note that dur- 
ing his pastorate the Sunday-school of the 
church took its rise. He w r as also Moderator 
of the Philadelphia Association. Those who 
followed Mr. Peckworth in the pastorate, as far 
as can be learned, are given here in the order 
of their service : John Miller, Alfred Earle, 
Joseph Smart, Wilson Housel, William Mat- 
thews, Samuel Earle, and Elder E. Ritten- 
house, who came in 1858. Between the years 
1846 and 1858 the Wilmington Church ap- 
pears but seldom on the Minutes of the Del- 
aware Association as sending either letter or 
messengers. For a part of this time the church 
was not in fellowship with the Association, 
and the name was dropped. Upon its reap- 
pearance it is put at the foot of the list. In 
1862, the First Church applied to the Phila- 
delphia Association for admission into that 
body, and being found to be in accord in faith 
and order with the Association by a Committee 
of which Rev. J. H. Kennard, D. D., was 
Chairman, was received and restored to its for- 
mer place upon the roll. It remained until 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 51 

1867, when the Philadelphia Association met 
in Wilmington with the Second Church. Then 
a Committee was appointed to consider the re- 
lation of the First Church to the Association. 
The Committee, Thomas Winter, D. D., Rev. 
Y\\ H. H. Marsh, and Rev. G. W. Folwell, re- 
ported : That the male members of the church 
asserted that the application made in the name 
of the church for membership in the Philadel- 
phia Association was made without sanction of 
the church proper, and that they were then, 
and continued to be, a member of another As- 
sociation, from which they had no wish to be 
separated. The church was therefore dropped 
from the Minutes. In 1870, however, the 
church applied again, and was admitted into 
the Philadelphia Association. It is now, how- 
ever, again a member of the Delaware Asso- 
ciation. 

11. Distinguished Men. 
There were many ministers of note belong- 
ing to this period, who labored in the State or 
went thence to other fields of usefulness. The 
Thomases, Joneses, Griffiths, Davises, Suttons, 
Morgans, and Gibbinses were all known lead- 



52 THE EARLY AND LATER 

ers in the Baptist denomination of their day. 
Some few of these princes in Israel, besides 
those already mentioned in these pages, are 
worthy of special consideration. 

Rev. Jenkin Jones, though born in Wales 
in 1690, was called to the ministry in 1724 at 
Welsh Tract. He arrived in this country about 
1710, and went to Philadelphia in 1725. He 
first had pastoral care of Lower Dublin and 
First Philadelphia churches jointly ; but May 
15, 1746, upon the reconstruction of the church 
in Philadelphia, he became Pastor of the latter 
only. He was the first Pastor that the First 
Church had wholly to itself, without dividing 
his time with others. He did real service to 
this church and to the interests of the Baptist 
denomination. He secured to the church their 
valuable lot and house, and was the moving 
cause of altering the direction of licenses, so as 
to enable dissenting ministers to perform mar- 
riage by them. " He built a parsonage-house, 
partly at his own charge. He gave a hand- 
some legacy toward purchasing a silver cup for 
the Lord's Table which is worth upward of 
thirty pounds. His name is engraved upon 
it." He was Moderator of the Philadelphia 




REV. ABEL MORGAN, A. M. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 53 

Association in 1756, and died in Philadelphia, 
July 16, 1760. 

Abel Morgan, Jr., A. M., was born at Welsh 
Tract, April 18, 1713, and educated near by, 
at Pencader Academy, kept by Rev. Thomas 
Evans. He was ordained at AVelsh Tract in 
1734, and was called to the Middletown Church, 
New Jersey, which he served as Pastor till his 
death in the seventy-third year of his age. In 
1772 he was Moderator of the Philadelphia 
Association, the celebrated Dr. James Manning 
being Clerk at the same time. Previously, Mr. 
Morgan served as Clerk. It was in 1774, upon 
his suggestion, that the Circular Letter was 
adopted by the Philadelphia Association for the 
first time. He was among the most noted Bap- 
tist ministers of his day. Dr. Samuel Jones 
calls him " the great, the incomparable Abel 
Morgan " (Benedict, p. 582). The same writer 
(p. 209) says: He "is the oldest writer I can 
find among the American Baptists in defence 
of their sentiments. Between this learned writer 
and Rev. Samuel Finley, a Presbyterian min- 
ister, then of Nottingham, Pennsylvania, a dis- 
pute appears to have arisen, which was carried 
on with much spirit on both sides for a num- 



54 THE EARLY AND LATER 

ber of years." " Mr. Finley was afterward 
President of Princeton College, New Jersey." 
" Mr. Morgan had the advantage/' says Bene- 
dict in a note, "as a learned and logical de- 
bater." One of his works produced on this 
occasion — comprising one hundred and seventy- 
four pages — was printed in Philadelphia by the 
famous Benjamin Franklin in 1747, and though 
a small volume is valued now at fifteen dollars 
per copy. Previous to this Mr. Morgan had 
another controversy at Kingswood with Rev. 
Samuel Harker, also a Presbyterian minister. 

Rev. John Davis, son of David Davis, Pas- 
tor of Welsh Tract, became Pastor of the Sec- 
ond Church, Boston, Massachusetts. He was 
a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, 
and " a man of fine talents and of a finished 
education;" also "a truly pious man." He 
went to the church at Boston on trial in the 
spring of 1770, and in September following 
was ordained to the pastoral office. In less 
than two years he was compelled to resign on 
account of declining health, and shortly after 
died. 

The Jones family have been distinguished in 
the annals of the Delaware Baptists. The most 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 55 

prominent among them was Rev. David Jones, 
A. M. He was the son of Morgan and Eleanor 
(Evans) Jones, and born in White Clay Hun- 
dred, New Castle County, Delaware, May 12, 
1736. He removed with his parents to Iron- 
hill in 1750, where he was brought to a saving 
knowledge of Christ in 1758, at the age of 
twenty-two, and baptized May 6, 1758, by Rev. 
David Davis, Pastor of the Welsh Tract Church. 
He studied under Rev. Isaac Eaton, A. M., at 
Hopewell, New Jersey, remaining three years, 
where he " learned Latin and Greek*" In 1761, 
he became a licentiate of the Welsh Tract 
Church, and studied divinity at Middletown, 
New Jersey, under his kinsman, Rev. Abel 
Morgan, A. M. He was Pastor at Freehold, 
New Jersey, and at Southampton and Great 
Valley, Pennsylvania. He was the father of 
the late Rev. Horatio Gates Jones, D. D., and 
grandfather of Hon. H. G. Jones of Philadel- 
phia.* Rev. David Spencer, in his Early Bap- 
tists of Philadelphia, says of him : " Rev. John 
Gano, in his letter to the First Baptist Church, 
as given in this chapter, speaks of popular men 
of character in the ministry that left the city, 
*Sprague's Annals, vol. vi. p. 85. 



56 THE EARLY AND LATER 

and some in the State, to enter the chaplaincy 
of the country. One of these men certainly 
merits reference here — not that he was a Phila- 
delphia Baptist, but as the ancestor of an hon- 
ored family of our denomination in this city. 
Rev. David Jones is the gentleman spoken of. 
. . . Previous to the issuing of the Declaration 
of Independence he took high ground in favor 
of cutting loose from Great Britain. In 1776, 
he became a chaplain in the army, and remained 
through all the war, up to the surrender at 
Yorktown, performing very important service 
for his country. He was a man of warm friend- 
ship, ardent patriotism, and sincere piety, and 
after much faithful work for his Lord and 
Master he died February 5, 1824, in the eighty- 
fourth year of his age. He was buried in the 
graveyard of the Great Valley Baptist Church, 
near the very spot where, for many years as a 
Pastor, he preached the gospel of the blessed 
God " (pp. 128, 129). 

Dr. William Cathcart, in his Centennial 
Offering, says: " The Rev. David Jones was 
an original thinker, and was fearless in express- 
ing his sentiments. He was an educated man, 
but he possessed what schools never gave— a 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 57 

powerful intellect. As a preacher he always 
secured the undivided attention of his hearers, 
and never failed to instruct and cheer them. 
When the Revolutionary war began Mr. Jones 
lived in a section of New Jersey where Tories 
made it neither agreeable nor safe for a patriot 
to reside, especially if, like Mr. Jones, he was 
an orator capable of moving men by his elo- 
quence, and a brave man to whom fear was an 
unexplored mystery. So Mr. Jones, believing 
that lie could serve his country better than by 
martyrdom from such hands, removed to Penn- 
sylvania. In 1775, on a public fast, he preach- 
ed to the regiment of Col. Dewees a sermon 
overflowing with patriotism and with unshaken 
confidence in God. The discourse was given 
to the printer and widely circulated over the 
colonies, and it exerted an extensive influence 
in favor of the good cause. In 1776, Mr. 
Jones became chaplain of a Pennsylvania regi- 
ment, and entered upon duties for which he 
was better qualified than almost any other man 
among the patriotic ministers of America. He 
was never away from scenes of danger, nor from 
the rude couch of the sick or the wounded sol- 
dier when words of comfort were needed. He 



58 THE EARLY AND LATER 

followed Gates through his campaigns, and 
served as a brigade chaplain under Wayne. 
He was in the battle of Brandywine, the 
slaughter of Paoli — where he escaped only by 
the special care of Providence — and in all the 
deadly conflicts in which his brigade was en- 
gaged until the surrender at Yorktown. Gen. 
Howe, learning that he was a pillar to the 
Revolution in and out of the army, offered a 
reward for his capture, and a plot was unsuc- 
cessfully laid to secure his person. Full of 
wit, eloquence, patriotism, and fearless courage, 
he was a model chaplain and a tower of strength 
to the cause of freedom. He was the grand- 
father of our esteemed brother, the Hon. Ho- 
ratio Gates Jones of Pennsylvania" (pp. 38- 
40). 

Conspicuous among the Baptist ministers 
who have made Delaware their home is Rev. 
Morgan Edwards, A. M., the well-known Bap- 
tist historian. Says Benedict: "He was em- 
phatically a pioneer in the history of the Bap- 
tists." " For talents, industry, and usefulness/' 
says the same writer, " he was pre-eminent in 
his day." He was a vigorous supporter of 
every Baptist enterprise of his day, and is 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 59 

justly regarded as the founder of Rhode Island 
College, now known as Brown University. He 
was born in "Wales, May 9, 1722, and educated 
at the grammar-school at home and at Bristol 
Seminary. He entered the ministry at the age 
of sixteen. He was recommended to the First 
Church, Philadelphia, as Pastor, by the famous 
Dr. Gill of London and others, and became 
Pastor of that church in 1761. He resigned 
and moved to Newark, Delaware, in 1772, 
where he had purchased a farm. He con- 
tinued to reside in the State until his death, at 
Pencacler, New Castle County, on the 28th of 
January, 1795, in the seventy-third year of his 
age. He was buried, according to his request, in 
the aisle of the meeting-house in Philadelphia. 
During his twenty-three years' residence in 
Delaware he labored in the interests of Christ 
and of the denomination within and without 
the State. Up to the Revolution he continued 
preaching the word of life and salvation in a 
number of vacant churches. After the war he 
occasionally read lectures in divinity in Phil- 
adelphia and other parts of Pennsylvania, also 
in New Jersey, Delaware, and New England. 
His Materials towards a History of the Baptists 



60 THE EAKLY AND LATER 

of Pennsylvania were published in 1792, while 
he was in Delaware, and most of his materials 
toward the history of Baptists in other States 
were collected and written about the same time. 
For years he printed at his own expense annual 
tables showing the condition of the churches of 
the Philadelphia Association, and finally in- 
duced the Association to print its Minutes. 
He was at different times both Clerk and 
Moderator of that body. In 1762, Morgan 
Edwards was Moderator, and Abel Morgan 
Clerk. "They met at the Lutheran Church, 
in Fifth Street between Arch Street and Race 
Street, where the sound of the organ was heard 
in the Baptist worship/' (See Minutes, 1762.) 
He was a man of extended travel and of plea- 
sing manners. His Greek Testament, of which 
he was complete master, was his constant com- 
panion, while he loved his Hebrew Bible next. 
He called them the minister's two eyes. He 
was brought up an Episcopalian, and became 
a Baptist upon conviction. The large print- 
hand in which his Manuscript Materials towards 
a Baptist History is written can never be for- 
gotten by those who have seen it.* 

* Mr. Edwards was the only Baptist minister of that 




JOSEPH H. KENNAED, D. D. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 61 

Rev. Thomas J. Kitts was ordained at the 
Wilmington Church in 1818, during the pas- 
torate of Rev. Daniel Dodge. He was born in 
Pennsylvania, September 13, 1789. In 1818, 
he was Clerk of the Delaware Association. He 
was Pastor at the Great Valley in 1822, and 
became Pastor in 1823 of the Second Church, 
Philadelphia, which church he served until his 
death, January, 1838. He preached the ser- 
mon before the Philadelphia Association in 
1826, and was Clerk in 1827, and Moderator 
in 1828. In character and preaching ability 
he was second to none. 

Rev. Joseph H. Kennard, D. D., so well 
known to this generation, was converted under 
the ministry of Mr. Dodge, and baptized by 
him, July 3, 1814. He was also licensed to 
preach by the Wilmington Church, September, 
1818. He was appointed, with others, by the 
Delaware Association in June, 1819, to repre- 
sent them in the next Philadelphia Association, 
which was probably his first appearance as a 
delegate in the body of which he was so many 
years a leader. His first labors were as a mis- 
day, so far as I can learn, who sympathized with the 
Loyalists. 



62 THE EARLY AND LATER 

sionary in this peninsula, u everywhere exciting 
attention by his youthfulness and glowing zeal." 
Mr. Kennard was born near Haddonfield, New 
Jersey, April 24, 1798, and his parents were 
Friends. He came to Wilmington when he 
was about fifteen years of age. He was called 
from his work in Delaware to the pastorate of 
the Baptist Church at Burlington, New Jersey, 
where he was ordained in July, 1820. He 
went in 1822 to the Second Church, Hopewell, 
New Jersey, and in October, 1822, to the 
Blockley Church, now in Philadelphia. While 
there he was largely instrumental in the for- 
mation of what is now the Pennsylvania Gen- 
eral Association, of which he became the Mis- 
sionary in 1830. In January, 1832, he ac- 
cepted a call to become the Pastor of the New 
Market Street Church (now the Fourth), Phil- 
adelphia. His labors there were most success- 
ful. The house was crowded, souls were con- 
verted, and the church grew in numbers. 
Needing more room, nearly one hundred and 
seventy members went out and formed the 
Tenth Church, January 1, 1838, with Mr. 
Kennard as Pastor, which office he filled for 
the remainder of his life. This church reach- 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 63 

ed a membership of eleven hundred during his 
pastorate, and was the mother of four or five 
vigorous churches. For a period of thirty-four 
years he was a settled Pastor in Philadelphia, 
and during his long life he baptized over two 
thousand persons. He was a man of great in- 
fluence, not only in his own church and de- 
nomination, but other denominations, and the 
world acknowledged the power of his life for 
Christ. He died in the harness, Lord's Day 
evening, June 24, 1866, and was succeeded, 
according to the wish of his heart, by his son, 
Rev. J. Spencer Kennard, D. D. 

Our brief mention of men of note in this 
connection would not be complete if the name 
of Captain Calvin Tubbs were omitted. It is 
impossible to find out much about him, but 
enough is known to make his name conspicu- 
ous in Baptist history. He was a native of 
New England, a sea-captain by occupation, and 
lived for many years when ashore in Newark, 
Delaware, or on his farm at Aikenville in the 
same State. He married Mary, the daughter 
of Rev. Gideon Farrell, who was Pastor of 
Welsh Tract Church from 1802 to 1820. Mr. 
William M. Campbell, Clerk of that church, 



64 THE EARLY AND LATER 

sends me the following, taken from the Min- 
utes: "May 27, 1815, yearly meeting. The 
Association being held on the first Sabbath in 
June, which is the day of our monthly meeting, 
the church was now called together to attend to 
business. 1st. Captain Calvin Tubbs came for- 
ward and offered his experience with a view to 
be baptized and join the church. He was ac- 
cordingly received for baptism, to be performed 
on the morrow morning." " He was present 
to appointment, and was baptized and received 
a member at Bethel meeting on the second Sab- 
bath in June at the quarterly meeting." The 
latter words are probably those of Mr. Camp- 
bell, condensed from the record. An old mem- 
ber of the Welsh Tract, now living, informs 
me that he was present and saw Captain Tubbs 
baptized. Being " yearly meeting," it was per- 
formed in the presence of a large concourse of 
people. Bethel was a mission of Welsh Tract. 
Captain Tubbs in 1830 united with the Fifth 
Baptist Church, as Rev. B. D. Thomas, Pastor, 
tells me. It was then the Sansom Street Church, 
Philadelphia. He was a member there for only 
a short time. He and his w 7 ife and children 
are buried in the graveyard of the Welsh Tract 




J. G. ONCKEN, D. D. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 65 

Church, in the rear of the house. He was a 
godly inan, and is well remembered by many 
now living in Philadelphia, as well as in Del- 
aware. Says Captain Turley : " He flew the 
Bethel flag on Sunday." 

It is, however, chiefly of his connection with 
the conversion to Baptist views of the great 
German apostle, Rev. John G. Oncken, D. D., 
that I wish to speak. This matter was first 
brought to the attention of the writer by Miss 
Anne Semple of Wilmington, Delaware, who 
knew him well and played with his children. 
Miss Semple says : " Captain Tubbs com- 
manded a vessel sailing between Philadelphia 
and Hamburg, belonging to the late John 
AVelsh, Esq., of Philadelphia, whose wife was 
a member of Sansom Street Baptist Church, 
and who was the father of the ex-Minister to 
England. One winter his vessel was providen- 
tially ice-bound at Hamburg, and he boarded 
in the city. In the same house was a young 
man, a colporteur from London, named J. G. 
Oncken, a Pedobaptist. They became intimate, 
and among other religious subjects discussed 
interchanged their views on the ordinance of 
Baptism. Mr. Oncken, being convinced that 

6* E 



66 THE EARLY AND LATER 

the captain had the Bible on his side, and con- 
sequently that he was not baptized, requested 
that on his return home he would make his 
case known to some Baptist minister going to 
Europe, and ask him to visit Hamburg and 
baptize hini." 

In Lehmann's History of the Baptist Churches 
in Germany, etc, translated by G. Anderson, 
D. D. (p. 5), we read : " Finally, after many 
years, Dr. Barnas Sears of America, who now 
occupies a high position in the United States, 
came to Hamburg, entered into intimate rela- 
tions with Oncken, and was thus prepared to 
administer baptism to him and to the few be- 
lievers who found themselves in fellowship 
with Oncken, and shared his convictions in re- 
spect to the ordinances. It was on the 22d of 
April, 1834, that the above-mentioned solemn 
baptism was administered to him and to six 
others, and thus was laid the foundation of the 
first Baptist Church in Hamburg and in Ger- 
many. The event caused a great sensation 
wherever Chicken's name was known. On ac- 
count of his meetings and preaching he had 
already suffered persecution, which now rose to 
an unusual height." 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 67 

The following letters explain themselves : 

From the Hon. John Welsh, ex- Minister of the United 

States to England. 
My Dear Sir : 

I am sorry that I am unable to give you the infor- 
mation you wish to get in regard to the late Captain 
Tubbs. We have no knowledge of his son Calvin, but 
my brother says he had a son called after him, Sam- 
uel Welsh Tubbs, who some years ago was in New 
York, but he knows nothing of his present residence, 
not having heard of him for several years. 
Very respectfully, 

Joh^t Welsh. 

Philadelphia, May 10, 1880. 
Rev. R. B. Cook. 

It was in hopes of finding something of the 
nativity of Captain Tubbs from the registers 
of the Welsh firm that the letter to which the 
above is the reply was written. 

From Rev. P. W. Bickel, D. D. 

Hamburg, den 6 April, 1880. 
Rev. Rich. B. Cook, Wilmington, Del. 
Dear Brother : 

Your favor of the 9th March has just come to 
hand. I went over to Mr. Oncken, and tried to get 
the information desired. Mr. Oncken remembered 
his good Captain Calvin Tubbs very well, and spoke 
of him with tenderest regard, but as to my question, 
Whether he was a Baptist when he first met the cap- 



68 THE EARLY AND LATER 

tain? he could give rne no definite answer. He only- 
said, "I think I was no Baptist yet, but my memory 
is so poor that I cannot give you any certainty." 

Am sorry I cannot give you a better report. Mr. 
Oncken's memory is so weak that no reliance can be 
put in it now. 

May God bless you in your work and multiply his 
people in every land and among every tribe ! 
Yours fraternally, 

Philipp W. Bickel. 

From Rev. Barnas Sears, D. D., LL.D. 

Staunton, Va., April 29, 1880. 

Rev. E. B. Cook. 
Dear Brother : 
I often heard Mr. Oncken speak of Captain Tubbs, 
who was, I think, at different times at Hamburg, and 
with whom Mr. Oncken corresponded. He always 
spoke of him with the greatest Christian affection. 
My impression is that Mr. Oncken got his Baptist 
views first from him ; that is, that he first talked with 
him on the subject of Baptism. His own doubts may 
have preceded that time. As Secretary of the Lower 
Saxony Tract Society he expressed his doubts in a 
letter to Dr. Maclay, and Dr. Maclay asked me to 
seek him out in Hamburg, which I did, and I found 
his views settled on the subject. He wished me to 
converse with his wife and four or five others, who 
were then much troubled with doubts ; all of whom 
were baptized afterward. 

Yours truly, 

B, Sears. 



)ELAWAEE BAPTISTS. 69 

From John L. JDagg, D. D. 

Haynesville, Ala., August 28, 1880. 

Eev. R. B. Cook. 
Dear Brother : 
Your letter of the 17th inst. was received yester- 
day. . . . Brother Calvin Tubbs was a highly-esteemed 
member of the Fifth Baptist in Philadelphia when I 
was its Pastor. The place of his nativity I cannot tell 
you. His wife was a daughter of a Baptist minister 
in the State of Delaware. ... I think it was Gideon 
Farrell. Brother Tubbs was captain of a trading ves- 
sel which used to sail from Philadelphia to Hamburg. 
At Hamburg he formed acquaintance with the Rev. 
J. G. Oncken while yet a Pedobaptist, and not only 
became much interested in him, but interested me also 
by the account of him which he gave me. At one 
time he showed me a letter which he had received 
from him, and which at my request he permitted me 
to get published. It was published in the Baptist 
Tract Magazine, the organ of the American Baptist 
Publication Society, and this published letter, I think, 
was the first thing that brought Mr. Oncken to the 
notice of our American people. ... On the question 
whether Captain Tubbs had any connection with the 
conversion of Mr. Oncken to Baptist views I can say 
nothing. . . . 

Your brother in Christ, 

J. L. Dagg. 



70 THE EARLY AND LATER 

From Jonah G. Warren, D. D. 

Newton Centre, Mass., August 12, 1880. 

Rev. E. B. Cook. 

My Dear Brother : 
Yours of the 11th is at hand. In looking into my 
copy-book, containing letters written from Germany 
in 1867, I find the following reference to Captain 
Tubbs. It occurs in a description I gave of a certain 
house in which Oncken at one time lived, and reads 
thus : 

" While living in this house, an American seaman, 
Captain Tubbs, a member of the old Sansom Street 
Baptist Church, Philadelphia, being ice-bound, was 
compelled to spend the winter in Hamburg. Oncken 
took him into his family, and during the long winter 
evenings they talked over the doctrines and practices 
of the Baptist churches in the United States, prayed 
together, and together went to the ' upper room ? and 
worshipped God in company with the band of be- 
lievers. When he returned home Captain Tubbs told 
his Pastor, Mr. Dagg, and afterward Dr. Cone, what a 
treasure he had found in Hamburg, and how his late 
1 host ' was looking for some one to baptize him. God 
always has some way to bring to pass his grand 
designs. Soon after correspondence was opened be- 
tween America and Germany, and results whose fame 
is in all the churches followed in rapid succession. " 

I may say, in addition, that my book, now open be- 
fore me, gives the fullest, most accurate and detailed 
description I have ever seen of the origin and progress 
of the Baptist work in Germany as connected with 



DELAWAEE BAPTISTS. 71 

Oncken, and I believe the best in existence, as it was 

taken down on the spot from Dr. Oncken's own 

lips. . . . 

Yours most truly, 

J. G. Warren. 

Enough has been said to show thai German 
Baptists, if not Germany, are under obligation 
to Captain Tubbs, a missionary Baptist of the 
Welsh Tract Church, and through him to the 
Baptists of " Little Delaware." The blessing 
has already returned to us, for Jeremiah Grim- 
mell, the founder of the German Church in 
Wilmington, was baptized by Dr. Oncken. It 
gives us a peculiar pleasure to begin the his- 
tory of the great German Baptist movement, 
so far-reaching and wonderful, upon Delaware 
soil. Dr. Oncken acknowledges his indebted- 
ness in the following extract from a letter ac- 
knowledging the reception of tracts from the 
American Baptist Publication Society, con- 
tained in the Tract Magazine for 1833: "The 
publications of your Society on Baptism are ad- 
mirable. They were quite new to me, and 
have tended not a little to establish me in my 
purpose to comply with this part of my Sa- 
viour's command as soon as possible."* 

* For those who wish to examine the matter further I 



72 THE EARLY AND LATER 

In the days of these men the Baptists of 
Delaware were a missionary, and consequently 
a growing, people, and Delaware was a centre 
of Baptist power and influence. Here is an 
extract illustrative of the missionary spirit of 
this period, taken from the Corresponding Letter 
of the Delaware Association, written by John 
M. Peck and endorsed by Rev. Jethro Johnson, 
Moderator, and approved by the Association at 
the meetings the year following that in which 
Captain Tubbs was baptized (1816): "If we 
take a cursory view of what has been effected 
in the last twenty-five years, who can withhold 
the exclamation, 'What hath God wrought!' 
At that period the missionary flame commenced 
in Europe: it hath kindled across continents 
and islands, until the same holy fervor, in a 
good degree, warms the hearts of God's chil- 
dren on every side of the globe. No difficulties 
are insuperable to the zeal which animates the 
heralds of salvation : they go forth in every 
direction, bearing the precious treasure of 

refer them to The Baptist Missionary Magazine for 1834 
(p. 290), 1835 (p. 229), 1836 (p. 223), 1837 (p. 65), 1838 
(p. 229). The Kev. Frank S. Dobbins has kindly fur- 
nished me with these references. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 73 

eternal life. Already the streams of salvation 
are poured upon the burning plains of India ! 
The disciples of Brahma, the votaries of Jug- 
gernaut, and the deluded followers of the Ara- 
bian impostor catch the song of redeeming love ! 
Ethiopia is beginning to stretch forth her hands 
to God, and the isles to wait for his law ! . . . 
The real Christian, while viewing, on the one 
hand, the darkness, misery, and guilt of a large 
portion of the human family who are famishing 
for the 'bread of eternal life/ and on the other 
the ardent zeal discovered to relieve their mis- 
erable state, pants for the privilege of entering 
into the harvest. . . . Had we lived half a 
century ago, we might have been suffered to 
sleep securely, insensible to the wants of our 
perishing fellow-men. . . . Let us cast our eyes 
on the multitudes around us in this land of 
gospel light, . . . without the means of re- 
ligious instruction. . . . Let us feel for the 
poor Hindoo. . . . Let us be aroused by these 
considerations to make one united and vigorous 
effort to spread the gospel of Jesus both at 
home and abroad." 



74 the early and later 

12. The Delaware Association, 1795. 

Benedict says that an Association was formed 
among the Baptists of Delaware, but at what 
date he is unable to say. It seems from the 
following, published in 1830, that the date of 
organization was 1795 : " The Constitution of 
the Delaware Baptist Association, ratified and 
confirmed by the delegates of the Welsh Tract, 
Cow Marsh, Duck Creek, Queen Anne's, Wil- 
mington, and Mispillion churches, the 24th day 
of October, a. d. 1795/' This document is 
signed by the Pastors of the churches at that 
time, and by one delegate from each church. 
Other proof is not wanting. Five of these 
churches were in Delaware, and one probably 
in Maryland. Several churches in Pennsyl- 
vania soon joined the Association, those of them 
connected with the Philadelphia Association 
withdrawing for the purpose. According to 
the Minutes of the Philadelphia Association 
of 1794, the Cow Marsh, Welsh Tract, Duck 
Creek, and Wilmington churches requested 
" approbation and dismission " from the Asso- 
ciation " to join another." It was voted that 
as the relation had been a long and happy one, 
they would be glad to have it continue ; but if 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 75 

they wished to withdraw, consent was granted. 
They withdrew, and formed the Delaware Asso- 
ciation, as we have seen. One, the Mispillion, 
came from the Salisbury Association. It seems, 
then, that union between Delaware and Penn- 
sylvania churches in a Delaware Association is 
no new thing. Benedict says that the Delaware 
Association was a corresponding body of the 
Philadelphia Association as early as 1798, but 
the Philadelphia Association sent both letter 
and messenger to them in 1796, which was the 
first meeting held after the organization. At 
the same meeting of the Philadelphia Associa- 
tion, Dr. Rogers and Rev. T. Ustick were ap- 
pointed to revise and publish the materials 
toward a history of the Baptists in Delaware 
by Morgan Edwards, just dead. Of the four 
churches in Delaware that had joined the Salis- 
bury Association, three — viz. the Sounds, Broad 
Creek, and Gravelly Branch — continued in that 
connection. All the other Baptist churches in 
Delaware united with the new Association. 
The Delaware Association was composed — 
In 1801 of 5 churches and 293 members. 

" 1825 " 9 " " 596 " 

" 1879 « 7 u u 197 



76 THE EARLY AND LATER 

Four of the seven churches reported in 1879 
are in Delaware, and with a total membership 
of one hundred and twenty-eight. There are 
besides two churches in the Salisbury Asso- 
ciation, Little Creek and Broad Creek, with 
seventy-two members, in all (Salisbury Min. of 
1879) making a total in the State, belonging to 
these six churches, of two hundred members. 
The once-flourishing Welsh Tract Church has 
decreased from one hundred and ninety-two in 
1817 to sixty-four in 1879, while in the same 
period the First Wilmington has fallen from 
two hundred and eight to eleven. And this 
decline does not come because the new churches 
established draw from them, for only one new 
interest has been established by the efforts of 
the earlier churches of the Delaware Asso- 
ciation since 1786, or for nearly a century. 
One church has been organized in that time, 
for which I cheerfully give them all the credit 
due. It is called the Bethel, and was started 
in 1786 as a mission in New Castle County 
by the Welsh Tract Church. It was made to 
stand alone by its mother in 1839, and consti- 
tuted a church with sixteen members after an 
existence as a mission of forty-six years. There 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. il 

were also three churches formed in the lower 
part of the State in the early part of this cen- 
tury, and connected with the Salisbury Asso- 
ciation — the Bethel, in Sussex County, the 
Little Creek, and the Hillsborough. The Lit- 
tle Creek is the only one of the three that sur- 
vives, and is served in conjunction with the 
Broad Creek Church by Elder E. Rittenhouse, 
who is Pastor also of the First Wilmington 
Church, and the only Pastor of the Old School 
denomination note [1880) in the State, The 
Gravelly Branch, Sounds, Mispillion, Bethel 
in New Castle County, Bethel in Sussex Coun- 
ty, and Hillsborough churches are no more; 
their light has gone out, their " candlestick " 
has been removed, and their empty meeting- 
houses stand like deserted windmills, testifying 
of the industry of a past age that built them, 
and of the progressive spirit of the present that 
has left them far behind. And "the things 
which remain" "are ready to die." The most 
indication of life is observable in the venerable 
Welsh Tract Church. Yet even here regular 
service is held only twice a month, while with 
the others it is but monthly. The attendance 
at all of them is mostly small. 
7* 



78 THE EARLY AND LATER 

The meetings of the Association, which are 
annual, are sometimes largely attended. 

The cause of this unusual decline in our de- 
nominational affairs, and of the decayed and 
feeble state of these early churches, is thus 
stated by Rev. Morgan J. Rhees, then of Dela- 
ware, himself a Welshman, in Benedict's His- 
tory of the Baptists : " One general remark is 
true of them all : i They progress backward? 
There has been a regular decline for years, 
even greater than is exhibited by their returns 
and their congregations, to almost nothing. 
There is one prominent reason why these 
churches, and those of a kindred spirit in Del- 
aware and Maryland and everywhere else, are 
declining, and do not and cannot prosper. You 
will find it in Haggai i. 2-12 and in Malachi 
iii. 8-11. They withhold from the Lord's 
cause that which he demands, and the result 
is the heavens withhold their blessings. God 
has called for a drought upon them in spiritual 
things, and they are withering and fast decay- 
ing ; and it needs no prophetic gift to see their 
speedy dissolution unless they repent and re- 
turn to the Lord and engage in his service. 
It is lamentable to see the light extinguished 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 79 

where it shone so clearly, but it is in accord- 
ance with his plans who doeth all things well, 
and who will be honored by the service of his 
professed disciples. These churches opposed 
all missionary, Bible, Sunday-school, tract, and 
temperance organizations, and are thus hinder- 
ing the fulfilment of the Saviour's command 
' to preach the gospel in all the world, to every 
creature/ as far as they can do it ; and while 
they thus act they cannot prosper" (p. 630). 

They are numerically much weaker to-day 
than when these words were written (1845), 
and we can almost hear the Saviour say to 
them, as to the church at Sardis : " For I have 
not found thy works perfect before God." 
Were these always the principles and practices 
of these churches? we ask. Their history be- 
fore the formation of the Delaware Association, 
the multiplication of members and churches 
among them through their own missionary 
labors as well as those of others, prove that 
their faith and practice have changed. And 
for a quarter of a century after the formation 
of the Delaware Association these w r ere mis- 
sionary churches, favoring societies for extend- 
ing the Redeemer's kingdom at home and in 



80 THE EARLY AND LATER 

foreign ]ands. But first let us hear the testi- 
mony of the fathers upon these points. 

Benedict, in his History of the Baptists (p. 
626), says : " The numbers and influence of the 
denomination in this State for many years was 
small, yet it was for a long time equal, in pro- 
portion to the population, to any of the Middle 
States." "The community at Welsh Tract in 
early times held a respectable stand among the 
American Baptists ; it was one of the five churches 
which formed the Philadelphia Association ; its 
ministers were among the most active in all Bap- 
tist operations ; and the whole concern was not 
behind any of the members of that quintuple 
alliance." A. D. Gillette, D. D., in the Cen- 
tenary volume of the Philadelphia Association 
Minutes (p. 15, 1849), says: "This church ap- 
pears to be very regular in its first settlement, 
and hath been the best supplied with ministers of 
any church belonging to this Association." W. 
Cathcart, D. D., in his Centennial Offering (p. 
62), says that " John Adams of Massachusetts 
was on some occasions the bitterest enemy of 
the Baptists in Revolutionary days, and yet he 
gives them considerable credit for bringing Del- 
aware from the gulf of disloyalty, to the brink 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 81 

of which, he declares l the missionaries of the 
London Society for the Propagation of the Faith 
in Foreign Parts ' had brought her, to the plat- 
form of patriotism." * This shows their in- 
fluence at an early date. In 1790, M. Edwards 
writes (p. 224 MS. History of Delaware) : " The 
Delaware Baptists are Calvinistie in doctrine, 
and differ little or nothing in discipline from 
their brethren in neighboring States." 

From these extracts it appears that they were 
strong, influential, patriotic, and orthodox as to 
faith and practice. 

Still later, Benedict says of all the Delaware 
Baptist churches, that they " were in full fellow- 
ship and cordial co-operation with their breth- 
ren in all plans of benevolence and evangelical 
efforts, and their course was prosperous and 
progressive " (p. 30). 

Let us now follow briefly the history of the 
early Baptists, as we find it in the Minutes of 
their own Association, the Delaware. We 
shall find that the latter statement of Benedict 
is strictly true in every particular. In 1804, 
they were a missionary people, for they pro- 

* Life and Works of John Adams, by Charles Francis 
Adams, x. p. 812. 

7* F 



82 THE EAKLY AND LATER 

vided for a missionary sermon and a collection 
in each church for the support of " missionary 
brethren" preaching the gospel in destitute 
places. In 1812, a plan of the " Baptist Edu- 
cation Society for the Middle States " was read 
and approved. This was doubtless a society for 
ministerial education, to which they are now 
opposed. When the Foreign Mission Society 
of the Baptist denomination in America, now 
known as the American Baptist Missionary 
Union, was organized in Philadelphia, May 
18, 1814, by thirty-three delegates from all 
parts of the country, two of this number were 
ministers closely identified with Delaware— 
namely, Rev. John P. Peckworth, then Pastor 
in Philadelphia, and Rev. Daniel Dodge, Pas- 
tor in Wilmington and the representative from 
Delaware in the body. In June following 
(1814) the Delaware Association passed the 
following : " This Association having learned 
with pleasure that a general Board of Commis- 
sioners for Foreign Missions has been formed 
in the city of Philadelphia, whose object is to 
translate the Scriptures into the different lan- 
guages of the heathen and send the gospel 
among them, we do therefore recommend to 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 83 

our brethren and friends to encourage the Mis- 
sionary Society formed in this State." 

This action endorses missions and missionary 
societies, and shows the existence of an auxiliary 
society in Delaware. 

In the record of 1815 we find the following 
minute : " It is with heartfelt satisfaction we 
have received communications from our Brother 
Rice, with the first Report of the Board of For- 
eign Missions, accompanied with a letter from 
their Corresponding Secretary, and would earn- 
estly recommend to our brethren to have a 
missionary sermon preached annually in their 
respective churches, and a collection raised 
and forwarded to the branch society of Dela- 
ware." 

In 1816, at TTelsh Tract, the Association 
passed the following : " It is with pleasure that 
we have received the following letter from the 
Corresponding Secretary of the Baptist Board 
of Foreign Missions (Dr. Staughton), with a 
request that it be inserted in our minutes, and 
have appointed Brother Dodge as our Cor- 
responding Secretary to receive and distribute 
the next Annual Report (the second) of the 
Board, and preserve our correspondence with 



84 THE EARLY AND LATER 

them." The letter referred to is printed in full 
in the Minutes. 

At the same meeting the first Report of the 
Delaware Bible Society was presented and 
affectionately commended to the brethren. At 
this time (1816) the Welsh Tract Church had a 
membership of one hundred and ninety, and 
the Wilmington Church two hundred and eight. 
This shows the effect of the missionary spirit. 
Now (1879) the Welsh Tract numbers but sixty- 
four, and the Wilmington Church only eleven. 

In 1817, the Constitution of " The Delaware 
Society for Domestic Missions" was adopted 
by the Association, and printed in the Minutes. 
Its object was to "aid poor and destitute 
churches in the support of the stated ministry 
of the word, and to supply destitute neighbor- 
hoods with the gospel." The Society existed 
for years, carried out its object, met with and 
had its proceedings printed in the Minutes of 
the Association. Women were appointed col- 
lectors in all the churches. 

In 1818, Rev. Samuel R. Green, Pastor of 
the First Wilmington Church, wrote in the 
Corresponding Letter : " Although there are not 
many added to our little number to sw 7 ell our 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 85 

song of praise, yet the pleasure of hearing that 
our churches are firmly established in the faith, 
and that they are cemented in love, cheers our 
hearts. The kingdom of the Lord is rapidly 
advancing; the stone cut out of the mountains 
without hands is spreading; the little handful 
of corn that is scattered upon the mountains 
shall wax like Lebanon. Christians are uniting 
their energies; the gospel is spreading. . . . 
Ethiopia is about to stretch forth her hands 
unto God. We live in an eventful period. 
Much remains to be done. May we, brethren, 
look about us, and while we pray Thy kingdom 
come, endeavor to exert every nerve, remember- 
ing that God has connected the means with the 
ends." 

In 1 820, the Association " Resolved, That our 
Brother David Greene be appointed our mis- 
sionary, as far as our funds will admit, and that 
he be authorized to make collections as often 
as expedient, whenever he may preach, to aid 
the funds of this Society. That Brother Greene, 
receive four dollars per week for his services, 
and that he have a letter of recommendation, 
signed by the Moderator and Clerk of this 
Association." In the Corresponding Letter of 



86 THE EARLY AND LATER 

the same year Rev. Jethro Johnson says : " It 
appears by the information we received during 
the session from different parts of the continent 
that a union in sentiment and practice general- 
ly prevails among our churches, and that al- 
though additions are not numerous, yet peace 
ill most universally prevails, and most of the 
meeting-houses among us are commonly crowd- 
ed with attentive hearers. The gradual increase 
of the gospel, together with the missionary 
spirit that in almost every place appears to 
prevail, leads us to believe that prophecies are 
actually fulfilling ' Thy kingdom come.' " 

In the Corresponding Letter of 1822, they 
say : " The accounts we have had from differ- 
ent sources, and especially from the Mission 
Board, are truly refreshing." . . . "May we 
feel ourselves deeply interested in this, and es- 
teem it not only our duty to put up our pray- 
ers, but to use all the means God has placed in 
our power, believing at the same time that he 
who hath said, l He must increase/ hath also 
declared, ' Be ye workers together with God.' " 

One might suppose from this that there were 
differences of opinion among them, but in 1824 
the Corresponding Letter says : " We have the 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 8/ 

pleasure to inform you that harmony now pre- 
vails in our churches." Also, " We have been 
cheered with accounts from various parts of 
the world, in which the Lord is lifting up his 
banner and drawing souls to it, and we earn- 
estly pray that he will continue to display the 
powers of his grace." 

In 1825, they received a report from the 
" Baptist General Tract Society/' now the 
" American Baptist Publication Society," 
through the agent in Wilmington, Samuel 
Harker. It was referred for examination to 
Messrs. Dale and Woolford, who reported, 
highly approving its design and wishing en- 
couragement for it; and this report was adopt- 
ed. At the same meeting the formation of a 
Domestic Mission Society was recommended, 
and it was agreed that a special meeting take 
place for the purpose at Bethel; that a mis- 
sionary sermon be preached by either Jethro 
Johnson or Thomas Barton; that an appeal 
for aid be made in an address ; and that a 
certain constitution be adopted to carry the 
purpose into immediate effect, so far as to pro- 
ceed in obtaining subscribers. 

We append a few extracts from the address, 



88 THE EARLY AND LATER 

prepared by Messrs. Barton and Woolford, 
and published in the Minutes and endorsed by 
the Association: "Upon our Peninsula there 
has been, and still remains to be, a lamentable 
deficiency in the supply of the preaching of 
the gospel. The Christian, . . . realizing . . . 
the danger to which the unconverted soul is 
exposed, ... is disposed to employ his purse 
and his pen that he may aid in disseminating 
a knowledge of that only 'name given under 
heaven among men, whereby we must be 
saved/ The ordinary means by which this 
knowledge is to be obtained is the preaching 
of the gospel. . . . We are called upon by the 
most imposing considerations to regard the 
condition of those who are famishing for want 
of the water of life, and to endeavor to supply 
them. . . . Those who can be indifferent . . . 
are certainly not under the proper influence of 
the spirit which the religion of the cross is cal- 
culated to produce." 

The next year (1826) the Corresponding Letter 
says : " Since our last communication we have 
formed a Society for Domestic Missions, to 
carry the word of life into those places adjacent 
on this Peninsula which are destitute ; and we 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 89 

trust that the zeal and vigor with which the 

thing is entered into is an indication that the 
time to favor Zion is at hand." 

The record in 1827 is : " No questions gen- 
dering strife have interrupted the harmony of 
our present meeting;" while the next year 
their session was " particularly harmonious;" 
and they were greatly rejoiced in communi- 
cating "the pleasing intelligence of large ad- 
ditions to our churches." 

In 1830, the Association, by the unanimous 
approval of the churches, ordered to be printed 
the Constitution and Rules before referred to as 
having been previously adopted in 1795, and 
signed by the ministers and delegates of the 
churches at that time. This shows that their 
faith in 1830 was the same as in 1795. This 
document is preserved with their Minutes. 

But notice the final article of faith : " Final- 
ly, we approve of the Confession of Faith 
adopted by the Philadelphia Association, Sep- 
tember 25, 1742, as generally expressing our 
opinion of the Holy Scriptures, which we hold 
above all as the only certain rule of faith and 
practice." This carries us back fifty-three years 
more, and we find the doctrines of 1742 un- 

8 * 



90 THE EARLY AND LATER 

changed in 1830, and in accord with the Phil- 
adelphia Association. And in this same year 
(1830) we find them in fellowship and corre- 
sponding with the Philadelphia, Hudson River, 
New York, and New Jersey Associations, and 
receiving by vote the Central New Jersey As- 
sociation as a corresponding body. 

From the foregoing facts we are justified in 
reaffirming that the earlier and the later mis- 
sionary Baptist churches of Delaware are one ; 
but from this period on, mark the change. 

Rev. Samuel Trott became Pastor of Welsh 
Tract Church in 1831, and immediately ap- 
pears to have taken the front in leading the 
churches away from the faith. In the Corre- 
sponding Letter of 1831 he says : " We receive 
him (Christ) as our Pattern ; hence we do not 
walk in the observance of many things which 
have been introduced among Baptists generally, 
and received, though of human contrivance, as 
of great importance in furthering the cause of 
religion, because we do not see our Jesus going 
before in the practice of them, and we desire to 
keep in his footsteps, believing it the safest 
path. Hence we prefer praying to him, the 
Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 91 

into his harvest such as he shall choose and 
qualify, and rely on his wisdom, power, and 
faithfulness to provide all things necessary for 
gathering in his elect and extending the know- 
ledge of his salvation to the ends of the earth, 
to resorting to the plans of human contrivance, 
however plausible, for accomplishing these 
things." In 1832, he returns to the charge in 
the Circular Letter endorsed by the Associa- 
tion, and condemns the plan of ministerial sup- 
port by salaries, the mission societies (ministers- 
agents, missionaries of societies), and theological 
seminaries. 

In the Corresponding Letter of the same 
year, Rev. Thomas Barton says: "Our letters 
chiefly complain of small ingatherings. . . . 
As to the cause of the state of our churches, 
various conjectures exist. By one, lamentable 
inertness and the predominancy of anti-effort 
principles is assigned as the cause. As to the 
first, we hope none of us are prepared to adopt 
the invitation of Jehu, 'Come, see my zeal for 
the Lord of hosts/ but with humility would 
acknowledge our shortcomings. As to the mod- 
era system, imposed upon the churches under 
the assumed authority of divine institutions, we 



92 THE EARLY AND LATER 

are not prepared to receive it. We know that 
the work of salvation is of God ; and why he 
does not convert more sinners among us we 
leave to him/' etc. 

After 1834 the Philadelphia Association is 
dropped from the Minutes as a corresponding 
body, the New York, Hudson River, New Jer- 
sey, Central New Jersey, and other Associations 
having been dropped before. 

The crisis, however, came in 1835, when a 
handful of faithful ones withdrew from the 
church at Wilmington and formed the Second 
Church. 

Rev. William K. Robinson, Pastor of Welsh 
Tract Church, writes in the Corresponding Let- 
ter of 1835 : u We have truly reason to lament 
the state of things, while there are so many 
that have embraced the general system of doc- 
trine and the whole brood of benevolent insti- 
tutions so called, therein uniting the church 
and the world together, saying that in money 
there is power sufficient, if there can be enough 
obtained, to save the whole world ; but we as 
an Association have not so learned Christ." 
And in 1836 the Association refused by vote 
to receive into fellowship persons baptized " by 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 93 

those who are engaged in the new-fangled sys- 
tems of the day." In the same year (1836) the 
Corresponding Letter, written by one " Brother 
Scott/' and signed by Rev. Peter Meredith, 
Pastor at Cow Marsh, as Moderator of the As- 
sociation, contains the following : " Jesus Christ 
has been set forth as the only way of life and 
salvation, and that entirely independent of hu- 
man agency. The enemy has made a descent 
upon one of our churches to sow the seeds 
of discord, and by that means endeavor to 
carry off the prize; but in this w T e rejoice to 
say that they have been disappointed and their 
partial triumphs have proved a blessing to 
us." 

It proved their ruin and a blessing to the 
cause of Christ, for while they have dwindled 
to eleven, the thirteen who seceded now number 
in Wilmington alone five churches and fifteen 
hundred and eighty-six members. 

" We are," he continues, " but a feeble body, 
and much exposed to the innovations of the 
learned gentry of the day, w T ho swarm out of 
the theological institutions like locusts, and are 
ready to devour the land." What would the 
writer say now to see so many noble young 



94 THE EARLY AND LATER 

men trained at the Crozer Theological Seminary 
laboring in Delaware in the cause of Christ? 

The misrepresentations and unfairness of some 
of these statements as to the doctrines and prac- 
tices of missionary Baptists are apparent to every 
well-informed mind. It is, doubtless, the case 
that the Antinomianism that led to the separa- 
tion of 1835, as well as the change of action 
in the Association, was for some time gathering 
force, like a smouldering fire, before it gained 
controlling power. 

The Corresponding Letter of the Philadel- 
phia Association of 1834 contains the following 
words, which show plainly the wide difference 
then and now existing between those calling 
themselves the Old School Baptists and those 
called the New School: "Our churches gen- 
erally are rooted and grounded in the faith, 
and in that faith which is fruitful of good works. 
The circulation of the Holy Scriptures and of 
evangelical tracts ; the teaching of sacred truth 
to our children in Sunday-schools ; the promo- 
tion of temperance associations, with kindred 
institutions, having in view the glory of God 
and the advancement of the best interests of our 
fellow-men — have enlisted, and are continuing 



DELAWAEE BAPTISTS. 95 

to enlist more and more, the affections and the 
energies of our body." 

In 1856, for the first time, the Association is 
called in the Minutes the " Delaware Old School 
Baptist Association." The school to which they 
belong is doubtless old. Do-nothings need not 
search far for precedents and ancestors even 
among Baptists. But, had they chosen to do 
so, they could have discovered Baptists in un- 
broken line whose labors and successes render 
them worthy of emulation by all who come 
after them, and especially by those who glory 
in the Baptist name, which their lives have 
made honorable as the very synonym of Chris- 
tian activity. 

Who the men were that led the churches 
away from the faith and practice of the fathers 
is apparent in some cases. Some of them were 
ministers of the Delaware Association and Pas- 
tors of the Baptist churches connected with it 
in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Some of them 
at one time were active in the cause of Christ 
and of missions. We have brought together in 
these pages their views and actions at different 
times, and found them to be in strong contrast. 
They changed, and the churches and the Asso- 



96 THE EARLY AND LATER 

ciation changed with them. One notable in- 
stance is that of the Rev. Philip Hughes, who, 
after laboring so zealously in the cause of mis- 
sions, embraced Antinomian views, and thus 
became widely separated from his former com- 
panion in labor, Mr. Baker. His name is 
merely mentioned by Semple, and not at all 
by Taylor, and the reason is given in Semple's 
History (p. 397, note): He became intempe- 
rate in habit as well as Antinomian in view. 
" His last days were a blot upon his first." 
He died at Dr. Lemon's, where Mr. Baker 
had ended his days so gloriously. I would 
not doubt the piety and good intentions of 
these men, but results prove that theirs were 
fatal mistakes — fatal to the very life and exist- 
ence of the churches that they meant to serve. 
"Would that their churches would own their 
error, retrace their steps, and help to recover, 
in part at least, what has been lost ! 

II.— THE LATER BAPTIST CHUECHES. 

1. The Second Church, Wilmington, 

1835. 

The first of these was the Second Church, 

Wilmington, organized September 7, 1835, 





SECOND CHURCH, WILMINGTON. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 97 

with thirteen members, dismissed by request 
from the First Church. Being opposed to the 
erroneous views and practices into which the 
latter had fallen, they separated to form a mis- 
sionary church. The constituent members were 
Gideon F. Tindall, Susanna Boulden, John 
Heazlet, Susan Darby, Moses Bannister, Ann 
Bannister, Robinson Beckley, Margaret Spring- 
er, Sally Ann Todd, Sarah A. Graham, Mar- 
garet Sterrett, Mary E. Stroud, and Jane 
Cochran. Of these but three are living : Gid- 
eon F. Tindall, Robinson Beckley, and Mary 
E. Stroud. 

The Council by which the church was consti- 
tuted was composed of the following ministers : 
Rev. Joseph H. Kennard and Rev. James J. 
TToolsey of Philadelphia, Rev. Leonard Fletch- 
er of Great Valley, Pa., and Rev. George I. 
Miles of West Chester, Pa. It will be ob- 
served that this movement received recognition 
from Pennsylvania, and that no Delaware min- 
ister was present. The next year (1836) the 
church united with the Philadelphia Associa- 
tion. The American Baptist Home Mission 
Society extended aid to this feeble band at this 
time and once afterward. 
9 G 



98 THE EARLY AND LATER 

The new church worshipped first in a rented 
room on Sixth Street, and in the old meeting:- 
house of the First Presbyterian Church. They 
soon secured a house of their own, on the cor- 
ner of Walnut and Fifth Streets, now occupied 
by the German Baptist Church. During the 
eighteen years they occupied this house great 
prosperity attended them, For seven years of 
this period Rev. Morgan J. Rhees, D. D., was 
their Pastor, during whose pastorate the church 
reached a membership of four hundred, and 
showed great liberality in their contributions to 
the various objects of benevolence. One year 
they report one thousand dollars contributed for 
benevolence abroad. Besides, they became self- 
sustaining, giving up voluntarily the aid ex- 
tended to them by the American Baptist Home 
Mission Society. In 1848, while Pastor here, 
Dr. Rhees was made Moderator of the Phila- 
delphia Association. 

In 1852, Rev. Frederick Charlton being 
Pastor, the church resolved to build in a new 
location, and Mr. Washington Jones w r as made 
Chairman of the Building Committee. A lot 
was purchased at the corner of Fourth and 
French Streets, and the present commodious 




WASHINGTON JONES. 




WM. O. JONES. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 99 

house of worship built. It will seat over six 
hundred persons, and is worth at least thirty 
thousand dollars. Mr. Jones took an active 
part in the enterprise, both by his own large 
contributions and his zealous efforts in collect- 
ing funds from others. Besides, he gave his 
time and personal attention to the erection of 
the building, and when it was complete he, his 
father, William G. Jones, and Jacob M. Chal- 
fant, gave their individual notes for ten thou- 
sand dollars debt remaining upon it. Mr. 
Jones was then, and has been ever since, the 
largest contributor to the funds of this church. 
It is remarkable that while engrossed in build- 
ing a new 7 house of worship they contributed 
more to Christian benevolence abroad than in 
former years, and enjoyed besides a gracious 
revival and large accessions. 

On the 3d of May, 1855, the new and hand- 
some house of worship was dedicated. The 
sermon w-as preached by Rev. Benj. Griffith, 
D. D. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the 
opening was commemorated May, 1880. In 
preparation for this, nearly one thousand dollars 
were raised and expended for painting and re- 
pairs ; and as much more being required for 



100 THE EARLY AND LATER 

the same purpose, Mr. S. A. Hodgman proposed 
that three thousand dollars be raised — two thou- 
sand dollars to pay off the debt of the church 
contracted for improvements some years ago. 
On Sunday morning, February 22, 1880, Mr. 
Washington Jones secured the whole amount, 
and the house, handsomely frescoed, was re- 
opened May 16 and 17, 1880, with appropriate 
exercises. The Committee having the work in 
charge — Alfred Gawthrop, George A. Le Mais- 
tre, and Edgar H. Quinby — did their work 
well. 

The present membership is three hundred 
and sixty-six, with two Sunday-schools and six 
hundred and sixty-seven scholars and teachers. 
This church has enjoyed in its history, extend- 
ing over nearly fifty years, five great revivals. 
In 1842, under Rev. Sandford Leach, aided by 
Rev. Emerson Andrews, evangelist, the mem- 
bership was increased from seventy-nine to two 
hundred. In 1843-44, under Rev. M. J. Rhees, 
D. D., assisted by Elder Jacob Knapp, one 
hundred and fifty-six were converted. In 1854, 
under Rev. Frederick Charlton, their number 
advanced from three hundred and fifteen to 
four hundred and one. In 1865, under Rev. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 101 

J. S. Diekerson, D. D., assisted by Eider Jacob 
Knapp, one hundred and ninety -four were 
added. In 1876, during the present pastorate, 
one hundred and seventy-two united with the 
church. In 1867, the Philadelphia Association 
met with this church. 

The following is a list of Pastors, with the 
dates of their service : Rev. Jonathan G. Col- 
lom first served the church as supply for three 
months. Rev. C. W. Dennison, from Septem- 
ber 9, 1836, to February 25, 1839. Rev. 
George Carleton, from September 15, 1839, to 
April 14, 1841. Rev. Sandford Leach, from 
July 1, 1841, to June 17, 1842. Rev. Morgan 
J. Rhees, D. D., from April 2, 1843, to May 
27, 1850. Rev. Jonathan G. Collom, from 
August 1, 1850, to March 22, 1853. Rev. 
Frederick Charlton, from June 27, 1853, to 
August, 1857. Rev. George M. Condron, from 
April 1, 1858 to October 1, 1859. Rev. James 
S. Diekerson, D. D., from March 1, 1861, to 
May, 1865. Rev. W. H. H. Marsh, from 
September 1, 1865, to March 26, 1871. Rev. 
James Waters, from March 24, 1872, to No- 
vember 16, 1873. Rev. Alexander McArthur, 
from March, 1874, to September, 1875. Rev. 



102 THE EARLY AND LATER 

Richard B. Cook, the present Pastor, who came 
December 1, 1875. 

Prior to the formation of this church a few 
members — sixteen in number — withdrew from 
the First Church, and formed themselves into 
a church which appears on the Minutes of the 
Delaware Association as the Second of Wil- 
mington. It was organized April 4, 1814, 
and received into the Association the same 
year, William G. Jones being one of the mes- 
sengers to receive the hand of fellowship. But 
this church was dissolved February 5, 1816. 
Mr. Jones did not go back to the First Church, 
but united with that at Marcus Hook. He 
was very active in the present Second Church, 
however, from the start, though he did not be- 
come a member there until the pastorate of Mr. 
Leach, who, when called by the church, made 
this the condition of his acceptance — that 
Mr. Jones bring his letter. It was done, and 
Mr. Jones from that time till his death was 
Deacon of the church. His house was the 
" Baptist Hotel " throughout his time, and 
many of the leading men of his day enjoyed 
his hospitality. 




EEY. R. B. COOK. 



delaware baptists. 103 

2. Dover Church, 1852. 

The second existing church formed in the 
State was that at Dover in 1852. In 1832, 
George Parris came to the neighborhood of 
Dover from New Jersey. No Baptists of oar 
faith and order were there then except Jonathan 
Stites and Mary his wife, also from New Jer- 
sey, who preceded Mr. Parris about two years. 
They were intelligent Christians, and adorned by 
their walk and talk the Christian life for many 
years, both dying in 1869. Rev. John P. 
Thompson, an old man, and formerly a sailor, 
came to Dover and vicinity, and labored for 
several years for a small salary from the Amer- 
ican Baptist Home Mission Society and for 
what could be collected on the field. He and 
others labored up to August, 1847, when Rev. 
John P. Walter was persuaded to come to 
Dover. He came October 1st as missionary 
on a salary of three hundred dollars, of which 
amount one hundred dollars were provided by 
the American Baptist Home Mission Society, 
one hundred dollars by the Second Church, "Wil- 
mington, and one hundred dollars were assumed 
bv Mr. Parris to be collected on the field. 



104 THE EARLY AND LATER 

In 1850, a subscription was started for a house 
of worship; Brethren Stites and Parris gave 
five hundred dollars each toward it. Besides, 
they had bought the parsonage and ground 
next to it, facing the Public Square, whereon 
the church now stands, in 1848 and 1849, in 
trust for the Baptist Church, which was not 
incorporated till 1853. The corner-stone of 
the new house was laid, September 9, 1850, by 
Rev. A. D. Gillette, D. D., of Philadelphia, 
and the basement dedicated, January 25, 1852, 
at which time the church was constituted with 
eight members — Jonathan Stites, Mary Stites, 
George Parris, Jane E. Parris his wife, George 
P. Barker and Ruth Barker his wife, Eliza- 
beth Walker, and Beulah Magonagill. The 
two latter were daughters of Stites and wife. 
Mrs. Walker was the only one living in Dover, 
the others living in the country. Rev. J. G. 
Collom, Pastor of the Second Church, Wil- 
mington, officiated at the constitution of the 
church. Mr. Walter became Pastor of the 
church, and worked with his own hands to get 
the house built. He resigned July 1, 1852, 
and was succeeded by Rev. D. A. Nichols, who 
resigned in 1853. Rev. E. R. Hera succeeded 




KFY. O. F. FLIPPO. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 105 

Mr. Nichols, and left in 1854. From 1854 to 
1859 the church had no Pastor. Rev. C. J. 
Hopkins became Pastor in 1859, but retained 
his charge only three months. The church was 
without a Pastor until 1861, when Rev. H. C. 
Putnam settled with them. He resigned Sep- 
tember 20, 1863. They were again without a 
Pastor until 1866, when Rev. D. B. Purinton 
was sent to Dover by the American Baptist 
Home Mission Society. He resigned the charge 
of the Dover Church in 1868, and was succeed- 
ed by Rev. O. F. Flippo in March of the same 
year, who remained Pastor for over two years. 
While Pastor he baptized nearly one hundred 
believers. Before this there had not been a 
baptism nor an accession for nearly two years. 
The church-doors even had been closed, and all 
was cheerless and discouraging. November 8, 
1869, Mr. Flippo left for a time to collect funds 
for the purchase of the Wyoming Institute for 
the Baptist denomination. Rev. George Brad- 
ford supplied the pulpit during his absence. 
Mr. Flippo resigned, September 15, 1870, to 
become General Missionary of the American 
Baptist Home Mission Society in Delaware and 
to give attention to the Wvoming Institute. 



106 THE EARLY AND LATER 

The coming of Mr. Flippo into the State was 
followed by an awakening among our churches 
and a growth of Baptist sentiment. We are 
reminded of the labors of Messrs. Baker and 
Hughes nearly a hundred years before. He 
was instrumental in the formation of several 
new churches, one of which came over to the 
Baptists from another denomination, Pastor and 
all. He was also the means of purchasing for 
the denomination, at a reasonable price, the Wy- 
oming Institute, and was its first President. 
He also edited and published in the State The 
Baptist Visitor, by which our history, work, 
and principles were brought before the people, 
and much good done. The frequent invitations 
he received and accepted to present our views 
in sermons or lectures was another means of 
extending our principles and multiplying our 
churches. "It pays," he wrote, "to cultivate 
Delaware." In all his work, Mr. Flippo was 
aided by Rev. George Bradford, Rev. N. C. 
Naylor, and Rev. Dr. Isaac Cole, who rendered 
him efficient service. Mr. Flippo felt that he 
had hardly begun his work in Delaware when 
it became apparent that he must seek a change 
of climate for his wife, and a field of labor 




REV. JEREMIAH GRIMMEL. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 107 

where he could be more at home during her 
decline. In March, 1873, he left the State to 
accept a pastorate in Maryland, and a few 
months afterward his wife died. The Dover 
Church had no Pastor from 1870 to 1873. 
Rev. Charles Harrison was Pastor from Feb- 
ruary 27 to September 27, 1873. There was 
no Pastor from 1873 to 1875. Rev. J. J. 
Reader was called April 18, 1875, and resign- 
ed October 1, 1876. Rev. B. G. Parker, the 
present Pastor, was called October 29, 1876. 

3. First German Church, Wilmington, 

1856. 
Rev. J. M. Hoefflin says : " In the year 1855, 
a German Baptist, Jeremiah Grimmell by name, 
a bookbinder by trade, came to Wilmington, 
Delaware. He was a native of Marburg in 
Hessen, where he was banished from house and 
home on account of his free confession of Jesus 
Christ, the only Saviour of the lost world." The 
Rev. Julius C. Grimmell, Pastor of the Ger- 
man Baptist Church, Brooklyn, New York, 
and son of Jeremiah Grimmell, writes : " Fa- 
ther was born January 25, 1809, converted in 
1835, and baptized October 25th of the same 



108 THE EARLY AND LATER 

year, at midnight, in the river Lahn, by J. G. 
Oncken of Hamburg. He endured bitter per- 
secution, the loss of property and business, and 
was often held in prison up to the year 1848. 
In 1851, he came to America, where he first 
gained converts in Williamsburg, thus laying 
the foundation of the church over which I am 
Pastor. ... In 1867, he made Buffalo, N. Y., 
his home, helping his son, then Pastor of the 
First German Baptist Church, as a most de- 
sirable aid and adviser. He died while on a 
visit to his beloved Wilmington, April 4, 1871." 
" In accordance with his own conviction," con- 
tinues Mr. Hoefflin, " Mr. Grimmell, now being 
in the land of gospel liberty, improved his op- 
portunity to bring the joyful tidings of salva- 
tion through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to 
his German friends, making, in this way a faith- 
ful use of his spare hours, and making even 
more spare hours for this very purpose than 
the wants of his family well permitted of; but 
the love of Christ constrained him thus to de- 
vote much of his time to making known the 
precious news which had gladdened his heart 
and brightened his path. Miss Anne Sernple 
found him once in an upper room, his shop, 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 109 

working industriously, and all the while talking 
to a young woman, an inquirer, whose tears 
were freely flowing. After some personal 
contact in visiting with his German friends, he 
invited them to a religious meeting in his dwell- 
ing-house, where a number met with him. The 
number thus meeting together increased rapidly, 
so that his own room was found too small ; 
when a neighbor, Mr. John Sch wager, who 
afterward proved one of the first converts, 
kindly opened his basement, on the corner of 
Pine and Fourth Streets, where the meetings 
were held for a long while. After some time 
the brethren of the Second Baptist Church gave 
them the use of their lecture-room, on the cor- 
ner of Fifth and Walnut Streets, where their 
meetings were held for some time, until the 
church was rented ; then they received short 
notice to vacate the place, and were obliged to 
return into the basement of Mr. J. Sch wager's 
house. 

"Meanwhile, Rev. Conrad Fleischmann, Pas- 
tor of the First German Church in Philadel- 
phia, had come down to Wilmington several 
times to proclaim the word of life to the gath- 
ered company. The Lord signally blessed the 
10 



110 THE EARLY AND LATER 

labors of both Mr. J. Grimmell and Rev. C. 
Fleischinann, so that at the end of nine months 
there were seven persons hopefully converted, 
who were baptized on the second day of March, 
1856, by Mr. Fleischmann. Two weeks later, 
five others professed Christ precious to their 
souls, and were also baptized by Mr. Fleisch- 
mann. The baptisms took place in the Second 
Baptist Church, corner Fourth and French 
Streets. In consequence of this most glorious 
beginning the Lord touched the heart of a 
member then of the Second Baptist Church — 
Miss Anne Semple — to assist this young band 
of German Baptists to obtain a house of wor- 
ship for them, equal to their pressing demand. 
Miss Semple effected the purchase of the old 
church, corner Fifth and Walnut Streets, for 
three thousand dollars, of which sum she do- 
nated a large share. Prior to the purchase they 
worshipped in her parlor. 

" After the purchase of the building it was 
deemed necessary to organize a church. The 
organization was effected on the 17th of April, 
1856. The following were the original con- 
stituents of the First German Baptist Church : 
Jeremiah Grimmell and wife Margaret, Ed- 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. Ill 

ward Austermiihl, John Miihlhausen and wife 
Sophia, John Schwager and wife Elizabeth, 
Peter Braunstein and wife Susan, Frederick 
Neutze, Mrs. Elizabeth Kaiser, Mrs. Theresa 
Hirzel, Catherine Braunstein. Of the above 
there are still eight in number spared to the 
church to the present day. The church had 
rather a slow growth, but at the same time a 
healthful one. The total number of those that 
united with the church during the entire history 
is one hundred and sixty-four. The present 
membership is seventy -seven. The church- 
property is free from debt. 

" Since the organization there have been six 
Pastors laboring with the church, the present 
one included. In the month of December, 
1856, the church called the first Pastor, Rev. 
F. A. Bauer, who remained with the church 
about one year and a half. Their second Pas- 
tor was Rev. J. C. Haselhuhn, now editor of 
the religious periodical of the German Baptists 
of North America, called Der Sendbote, who 
remained with the church a little over three 
years. Rev. H. Trumpp became their third 
Pastor, who remained with them a little over 
four years. Rev. R. Piepgrass was their fourth 



112 THE EARLY AND LATER 

Pastor, and remained with them but one year. 
Rev. J. Fellman became their fifth Pastor, and 
remained with them about five years. The 
sixth one is their present Pastor, Rev. J. M. 
Hoeffliri, who settled with them, November 1, 
1875." 

4. Delaware Avenue Church, Wil- 
mington, 1865. 

" A sister of the Second Baptist Church, from 
no other motive than to advance the cause of 
Christ and the interest of the denomination, 
and knowing the need of another church in a 
growing part of the city, induced fifteen mem- 
bers to unite and form a new interest remote 
from the Second Church, under the name of 
the Delaware Avenue Baptist Church." 

They were dismissed for the purpose from 
the Second Church, and constituted a church 
in May, 1865. Their names were as follows: 
Anne Semple, Alexander Bratton, Mary Slack, 
Mary A. Bratton, Kate Bratton, Amanda Brat- 
ton, Marion Moore, Mary Smith, Thomas C. 
Kees, W. IT. Gregg, Lucy V. Gregg, John 
Bradford, Rebecca Bradford, Eliza Jane Clo- 
ward, Charles Townsend. The organization 




DELAWARE AYEXUE BAPTIST CHURCH. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 113 

was effected in the house of Miss Anne Semple, 
June 22, when and where Anne Semple, Mary 
Slack, and AY. H. Gregg were appointed a 
Committee to prepare Articles of Faith and 
a Church Covenant. The Committee recom- 
mended the Baptist Church Manual, which was 
adopted. These three members became the 
largest contributors to the current expenses 
and building fund of the church, the contribu- 
tions of Miss Slack amounting in the aggregate 
to ten thousand dollars. The church was rec- 
ognized as a regular Baptist Church by a 
Council convened in the Second Church, July 
6, 1865, and received into the Philadelphia 
Association the same year. 

After their organization the new church wor- 
shipped for some time in the Wilmington In- 
stitute (Scientific Lecture-room), and held its 
week-night meetings in the Phoenix Engine- 
house, the latter free of charge. In October, 
1865, however, they leased the meeting-house 
of the old First Church. The sister before 
named as originator of this movement pre- 
sented the church with a lot, which was ex- 
changed for the one on the corner of Dela- 
ware Avenue and West Street, upon which 
10* H 



114 THE EARLY AND LATER 

their large brownstone house of worship stands 
in one of the best locations. 

Rev. George W. Folwell became their Pas- 
tor April 1, 1866. Their number then was 
fifty. The lecture-room of the new house was 
dedicated January 2, 1868, and the audience-* 
room, October 13, 1870. The total value of 
their church- property is estimated at sixty-five 
thousand dollars. They are still, however, 
greatly in debt, despite their heroic struggles 
and self-sacrifices ; but the day is not far dis- 
tant, they hope, when all encumbrances will be 
removed. A corner lot, eighty by one hundred 
feet, was given them by Mr. Philip McDowel 
at McDowelville, on the outskirts of the city, 
upon which they have recently built and dedi- 
cated a chapel, and in which they maintain a 
mission-school. 

Mr. Folwell resigned October 1, 1874, the 
church numbering when he left them two hun- 
dred and forty-six. He was succeeded by the 
present Pastor, Rev. Isaac M. Haldeman, April 
11, 1875. In the interval the pulpit was sup- 
plied by Rev. T. A. Gill, U. S. N. Under Mr. 
Haldeman's ministrations the membership has 
been increased to about one thousand. Three 




REV. I). B. PURINTON. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 115 

hundred and seventy -six baptisms were reported 
in 1876, and one hundred and three in 1878 
Mr. S. R. Ball informs the writer that the 
seating capacity of the meeting-house has been 
increased to twelve hundred, and that it is 
almost always full. 

5. Plymouth Church, 1867-73. 
In December, 1866, Rev. D. B. Purinton 
came to Dover under the auspices of the Amer- 
ican Baptist Home Mission Society. He found 
several Baptist families residing in Plymouth, 
ten miles south of Dover. In February, 1867, 
he began preaching on Tuesday evenings once 
in two weeks, until the following April, when 
he commenced services on Lord's Day afternoon 
of every other week — in the Congregational 
house of worship generally, but sometimes in 
private houses. Several more Baptist families 
having moved into the vicinity during the 
spring, a church was formed May 29, 1887, 
recognized September 24, 1867, and admitted 
into the Philadelphia Association, October 2 of 
the same year. Thirty members constituted 
the church, all of them from the Northern or 
Eastern States. Among them were Rev. E. P. 



116 THE EARLY AND LATER 

Salisbury and family, and Deacon F. C. Mack 
and his family. 

Mr. Purinton preached for them till March, 
1868, when he removed to New York State, 
but, returning in May, became Pastor of the 
church in June, preaching for them on Lord's 
Day, and during the week laboring in Lower 
Delaware and Maryland. He resigned, how- 
ever, in February, 1871, to take pastoral charge 
of a church in New York. He finally returned 
to Delaware, where he died in 1876. Deacon 
Mack writes of him : " To the blessing of God 
upon his labors is due the re-establishment of 
Baptist churches in this part of Delaware. He 
labored, and other men entered upon his la- 
bors/' He was a brother-in-law of Rev. A. 
B. Earle, D. D., the evangelist. 

Rev. J. M. Haswell, the missionary, while 
residing in the State preached for them occa- 
sionally, as did also Rev. Dr. Isaac Cole, but 
sometimes, when they had no preaching, one 
of the members read a sermon, generally from 
the Examiner, to those assembled. The church 
being weakened by a number of the members 
returning to their former homes, and being 
unable, with no house, to have regular times 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 117 

of worship, disbanded March 22, 1873, to 
unite with others in forming the church at 
Magnolia.* 

For most of the above facts I am indebted to 
Mr. E. H. Salisbury, son of Rev. E. P. Salis- 
bury, who, with his widowed mother, resides 
in the State. 

6. Lincoln Church, 1869-73. 
A meeting was held in May, 1867, at Lin- 
coln, near Milford, in the house of Mr. A M. 
Webb, to organize a Baptist Church. Sixteen 
persons out of twenty-three Baptists residing 
within eight miles of the place were present. 
Rev. W. H. Spencer and Kev. W. H. H. Dwy- 
er, as well as Mr. Webb, greatly favored the 
enterprise, but the project failed. Shortly af- 
terward Miss E. C. Parham came into the 
neighborhood from Milestown, Pennsylvania, 
and, being a strong Baptist, gave new hope to 
the cause. With the assistance of Eev. D. B. 
Purinton a church was finally organized, April 

* The reference to the union of the Plymouth and Lin- 
coln churches with those of Milford and Magnolia respec- 
tively, found in a note on p. 13 of Philadelphia Associa- 
tion Minutes, 1873, is just the reverse of what was the 



118 THE EARLY AND LATER 

28, 1869, with twenty-one members. W. C. 
Coles was elected Deacon, and A. M. Webb, 
Clerk. Rev. Messrs. Flippo and Purinton 
preached for them at times. A Council, com- 
posed of Rev. Messrs. Marsh, Folwell, Flippo, 
Purinton, and Hope, and other messengers of 
the churches, was organized, with Rev. D. B. 
Purinton as Moderator and Alfred Gawthrop 
as Clerk, and recognized them as a church. 
Rev. W. H. Spencer became Pastor, and upon 
his death A. M. Webb was licensed to preach, 
and continued to fill the pulpit until the church 
disbanded to unite with others in the formation 
of the Milford Church in 1873. 

7. Zion Church, 1871. 
While engaged in his work of General Mis- 
sionary, Mr. Flippo was invited to preach at 
Vernon, Kent County, where was a congrega- 
tion of Independent Methodists (Methodist 
Protestants). He first complied with their 
request December, 1870. They soon sent for 
him again, and invited him to hold a protract- 
ed meeting, which he did, preaching to sinners 
every night. This was in the spring of 1871. 
In the midst of the meeting they approached 



DELAWAKE BAPTISTS. 119 

him with the request to preach a series of ser- 
mons on the Principles and Practices of Bap- 
tists. They were inquiring, and wanted to 
know who we were and where we came from. 
He agreed to do so, on condition that they 
would follow him through " with the New 
Testament in hand, and not get mad." This 
they consented to do. He commenced a series 
of lectures upon the doctrines we hold. Be- 
fore he was through with the lectures every 
member, Pastor and all, was ready to be bap- 
tized, and applied for baptism ; and the whole 
church was baptized. Rev. Richard H. Mer- 
riken, since called to his reward, was then Pas- 
tor. The baptism occurred on a stormy day, 
March 12, 1871. 

On the last Lord's Day in April, 1871, the 
church was organized and recognized, Rev. J. 
M. Hope ; Rev. W. H. Spencer, and Rev. O. 
F. Flippo officiating. On the same day Rev. 
R. H. Merriken was ordained to the work of 
the Baptist ministry. The little band started 
a subscription for a new house of worship, 
and in November of the same year dedi- 
cated, nearly free of debt, a beautiful Gothic 
chapel. Mr. Flippo preached the dedicatory 



120 THE EARLY AKD LATER 

sermon. Tliis church is called the Zion Bap- 
tist Church. They have received large acces- 
sions since, and have always been faithful to 
the truth. The members of this church, for 
the most part, devote one-tenth of all their 
products annually to the Lord. They have a 
flourishing Sunday-school, under the superin- 
tendence of W. W. Seeders. 

Rev. M. Heath and Rev. J. M. Hope were 
co-Pastors of this church for some time. The 
present Pastor is Rev. George Bradford, who 
is a native of Virginia, and came into the State 
in 1869 to supply the Dover Church. Since 
that time he has devoted himself mainly to 
self-denying labor in needy Delaware. Mr. 
Bradford mentions Deacon Andrew Burnham, 
formerly of Vermont, as one to whose efforts 
in a great measure, and in connection with Mr. 
Flippo, the church owes its existence. 

8. Wyoming Church, 1872. 
The Wyoming Church was organized in 
1872. While Pastor at Dover, Mr. Flippo 
was invited to preach in the chapel ojf the In- 
stitute at Wyoming. A revival broke out in 
the school, and a number were converted. Sev- 




REV. JAMES M. HOPK. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 121 

eral persons living in Wyoming were baptized, 
and united with the Dover Baptist Church, and 
others were hesitating at the water, and efforts 
were about to be made to build a meeting- 
house. It was then that the Trustees ap- 
proached with the offer to sell the Institute. 
It was purchased, and in April, 1872, the 
church was formed, letters being granted by 
the Dover Church for that purpose. Rev. 
James Waters, Rev. G. W. Folwell, Rev. A. 
F. Shanafelt, Rev. E. E. Maryatt, Rev. J. M. 
Hope, and Rev. O. F. Flippo were present. 
The chapel in the Institute building was dedi- 
cated as a house of worship, Rev. J. S. Backus, 
D. D., of New York, preaching the sermon. 
Rev. M. Heath and Rev. J. M. Hope were co- 
Pastors of this, in connection with the Zion 
Church. Rev. George Bradford now serves as 
Pastor for both of these churches. He is as- 
sisted by Messrs. Miles S. Read, William S. 
Read, and other students from Crozer Theolog- 
ical Seminary, Chester, Pennsylvania. 

9. Magnolia Chtjkch, 1873. 
In March, 1872, Mr. Flippo was invited to 
preach in the village of Magnolia. He in tro- 
ll 



122 THE EARLY AND LATER 

duced Baptist principles in the first sermon in 
love and kindness. They heard the word glad- 
ly, and from time to time believers were bap- 
tized. The Plymouth Church had been formed 
in 1867, but, having no house of worship, dis- 
banded, and united with the baptized believers 
at Magnolia in the organization of the Mag- 
nolia Church. On the 3d of April the church 
was recognized, and the corner-stone of a new 
chapel was laid by Mr. Flippo. Rev. M. 
Heath was the first Pastor of this church, in 
which relation he continued for two years. Rev. 
J. M. Hope preached alternately with him, and 
is now sole Pastor of the church. 

10. Milford Church, 1873. 
A church was organized at Milford, with 
nineteen members, June 14, 1873. Some of 
these were from the disbanded Lincoln Church. 
The church was organized in the old Methodist 
meeting-house, and was formed mainly through 
the efforts of Rev. Messrs. J. M. Hope, Shaffer, 
and A. M. Webb. The house of worship at 
Milford was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, 
1875. Rev. Thomas Swaim, D. D., preached 
in the morning, and Rev. J. M. Hope at night. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 123 

Money enough was then raised to leave but a 
small indebtedness on the house, which is a 
substantial one and in a good location. 

11. Elm Street, 1873-76. 

July 30, 1873, was organized the Elm Street 
Church, Wilmington. Rev. N. C. Naylor, who 
had labored with them when a mission, became 
their Pastor. This interest grew out of the 
Baptist City Mission. The only other Pastor 
this church had w r as Rev. R. E. Bartlett, who. 
w r as called to the ministry and ordained there. 
This church disbanded December, 1876. 

12. Shiloh Church, 1876. 

The first African Baptist Church in Dela- 
ware w r as formed in Wilmington in the Cen- 
tennial year (1876), under the name of Shiloh, 
with twenty-one members. This church origi- 
nated from a Sunday-school started in the in- 
terest of the colored people by members of the 
First Church, after its return to the Philadel- 
phia Association, and during the pastorate of 
Rev. Thomas M. Eastwood. Most of the con- 
stituent members were either baptized by him, 
or received by letter or experience into the First 



124 THE EARLY AND LATER 

Church, with the understandiDg that as soon 
as a sufficient number could be brought to- 
gether a colored Baptist Church should be 
formed. They worship in a rented hall, but 
have a lot in a good location, on which they 
hope soon to build. They have a membership 
of eighty, and a congregation filling the room 
in which they meet, and greatly need a house 
of their own. Rev. B. T. Moore, a graduate 
of the Wayland Seminary, Washington, D. C, 
is Pastor ; they have had no other. 

13. New Castle Church, 1876. 
In the same year (1876) the New Castle 
Church, composed of fourteen members, was 
received into the fellowship of Baptist churches. 
It was constituted September 30, recognized 
February 13, 1877, and received into the Phila- 
delphia Association in October, 1877. It origi- 
nated through the labors of Rev. B. MacMackin 
and Rev. William H. Young, then students at 
Crozer Theological Seminary. It was during 
the Senior year that the needs of Delaware 
pressed upon the former. Failing to start others 
in the work, he and Mr. Young agreed to do 
what they could themselves. In 1875, they 




«SttSfciv DEf . s 



NEWCASTLE BAPTIST CHURCH. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 125 

decided to begin work at New Castle, as the 
place most accessible and needy. They knew 
nobody there, nor did they think there were 
any Baptists *in the town. They resolved to 
establish a Bible school, but the court-house 
was the only place suitable. The chief-justice 
positively refused its use for religious services, 
but finally it was secured without his know- 
ledge. Then friends were raised up for them, 
and Sunday afternoon, January 17, 1876, the 
Bible school was started, and soon there were 
two hundred adults collected regularly for the 
study of God's word. The school-service was 
followed by a sermon ; some Baptists, pre- 
viously unknown to each other as such, were 
collected ; several others were converted and 
baptized ; and a Baptist Church was constitu- 
ted September 30, 1876, composed of fourteen 
members. 

The work was supported entirely by the 
private means of these two brethren, excepting 
twenty-five dollars given toward an organ by 
three friends, what was taken up in collections, 
and a present of twenty-five Bibles from Mrs. 
John P. Crozer. "They found, however, a lady 
— Mrs. Jonathan George, living just outside 
11* 



126 THE EARLY AND LATER 

the town — who was noted for her loyalty to our 
denomination and her tireless energy in all she 
did. For years she had been trying to urge 
some one to begin work in New Castle, and 
thus she gladly joined with these brethren in a 
way that was as effectual as it was gratifying. 
In fact, the interest at New Castle owes its ex- 
istence greatly to the timely assistance of this 
earnest lady." 

"In 1877, Mr. MacMackin became Pastor 
of the church. In April, 1878, the corner- 
stone of their church-building was laid. Since 
then," continues Mr. Young, "Brother Mac- 
Mackin has been doing yeoman service in 
building the church-edifice," and "has been 
Pastor and preacher of the church, as well as 
architect, contractor, builder, and financial 
agent of the edifice." The house, a beautiful 
Gothic of extra fine brick, capable of seating 
three hundred persons, with slate roof, five 
stained windows, and neat belfry, costing, with 
the lot, over six thousand dollars, was dedi- 
cated, free of debt, December 19, 1879. The 
membership is now sixty -four. Among the 
noble contributors to the building fund, living 
out of the State and mentioned by Mr. Mac- 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 127 

Mackin, are Messrs. W. E. Garrett, Benjamin 
Gartside, Sr., Samuel A. Crozer, Callaghan 
Bros., J. J. Stadiger, and Mrs. J. P. Crozer. 

14. Bethany Church, 1878. 
July 2, 1868, a motion was passed at a reg- 
ular meeting of "The Baptist Church" of 
Wilmington (the old First) to receive members 
by letter from other Baptist churches. A sim- 
ilar motion had been passed some years before, 
and rescinded by them. At this meeting — in 
1868 — and immediately after the passage of 
the resolution, there were received, from Dela- 
ware Avenue Church, William H. Gregg, Lucy 
V. Gregg, and John Galbraith. Messrs. Gregg 
and Galbraith were appointed a Committee to 
secure from the Presbyterians, who had leased 
the house on King Street, the use of it for Sun- 
day-school and prayer-meeting purposes. Be- 
ing refused, a Sunday-school was started in the 
second story of the Friendship Engine-house, 
which at the end of the year — the lease of the 
Presbyterians having expired — was removed to 
the church, and met with large success. A 
prayer - meeting was also held, and as there 
were now constant accessions by letter, new 



128 THE EAELY AND LATER 

life and activity were infused. In October, 
1871, the church made application to the Phil- 
adelphia Association to be reinstated in that 
body, and was received and restored to its for- 
mer place on the roll, with the date 1785 as 
that of its organization. 

On April 13, 1871, Rev. E. E. Maryatt, a 
graduate of Crozer Theological Seminary, was 
chosen Pastor. He entered upon his work 
September 1st, and was ordained on the 28th 
of the same month. He served the church 
until August 22, 1873, when he resigned, and 
left with the high regard of all. Regular ser- 
vices were then conducted by students from 
Crozer Seminary and others. On April 21, 
1874, Rev. Thomas M. Eastwood was elected 
Pastor, and ordained June 11th of the same 
year. He was a native of Pennsylvania, who 
graduated at the University at Lew r isburg, and 
afterward studied at the Crozer Theological 
Seminary. He began to minister statedly to 
the church, May^l, 1874. 

In December, 1876, the First Church emi- 
grated from its old field to that which had been 
occupied by the Elm Street Baptist Church, in 
the south-western part of the city. The Elm 




REV. THOMAS M. EASTWOOD. 



DEL AWAKE BAPTISTS. 129 

Street Church disbanded because unable to 
maintain itself, and united with the First 
Church, which came to cultivate this import- 
ant field and occupy the house. The chapel 
and lot, however, belonged to the Baptist City 
Mission, composed of all the Baptist churches 
of the city. At a regular meeting of the " Mis- 
sion," held October 14, 1878, it was voted to 
present "to the brethren now worshipping in 
Elm Street Chapel, under whatever name they 
may hereafter assume," the entire property 
owned by it at the corner of Elm and Jackson 
Streets. After being in Elm Street Chapel 
for about two years, it was decided to disband 
the organization known as the First Baptist 
Church, and to reorganize under another name. 
The church disbanded, and the Bethany Baptist 
Church was formed, November 7, 1878, with 
Rev. Thomas M. Eastwood as Pastor, and was 
recognized by a Council, January 2, 1879. At 
present the church is in a growing condition, 
with a membership of one hundred and ten 
and a Sunday-school of two hundred and sev- 
enty scholars. 

I 



130 the early and later 

15. The Wilmington Baptist City Mis- 
sion, 1870. 
The " City Mission " referred to was organ- 
ized, upon the Newark (N. J.) plan, in 1870, 
February 21st, in the Delaware Avenue Church. 
Washington Jones was chosen President; Frank 
Braunstein, Vice-President ; Maury James, Sec- 
retary ; and William H. Gregg, Treasurer. The 
" Mission " is composed of the Pastors and dele- 
gates of the Wilmington Baptist churches. It 
succeeded in buying a large and eligible lot on 
the corner of Elm and Jackson Streets for eigh- 
teen hundred dollars, of which eight hundred 
were paid, and the remainder left upon mortgage. 
A chapel costing three thousand two hundred and 
fifty dollars was soon after erected, and finally 
paid for. This property was used by the Elm 
Street Church until the organization of the 
Bethany Church, when it was deeded to the 
latter. 

16. The Wyoming Institute, 1869. 
In 1869, the Baptists purchased, through the 
agency of Rev. O. F. Flippo, the Wyoming 
Institute, at Wyoming, three miles south of 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 131 

Dover. The building was furnished for a 
school of over one hundred, accommodated 
with a chapel, and surrounded by four acres 
of ground. A new and liberal charter was ob- 
tained in 1875, since which time the Institute 
has had its annual graduating classes. It is 
for both sexes. There are two departments — 
the Preparatory, for common branches, and the 
Seminary course of three years, for graduation. 
For several years past it has enjoyed a high 
degree of prosperity, at times reaching the ut- 
most limits of its accommodations. 

The Principal, Rev. M. Heath, A. M., who 
has held the position the past seven years, is a 
native of New Jersey and a graduate of Madi- 
son University, New York. For the past 
fifteen years he has been successfully connected 
with educational interests. It is with gratifica- 
tion we hear of the success of this institution, 
and trust that the Baptists of Delaware will 
show their appreciation of the privilege it 
affords, and support it by their prayers, their 
means, and by sending their sons and daughters 
to Wyoming to be educated. 



132 the early and later 

17. The Delaware Baptist Union, 1878. 

The Baptist Visitor having advocated, espe- 
cially in September, 1869, the consolidation of 
the Baptists in the State, a Committee met in 
the Baptist Church, Dover, November 3, 1870, 
which resulted in the drafting of a Constitution 
and By-Laws for a Delaware Association. This 
Committee consisted of Rev. W. H. H. Marsh, 
E. W. Dickinson, D. D., Rev. G. W. Folwell, 
Rev. O. F. Flippo, and R. W. L. Probasco. 
They failed to get their Association, for " love' 
for the old Philadelphia was too strong/ 7 but 
eventually the " Delaware Baptist Missionary 
Union " was formed at Wyoming, June 25, 
1874. A large meeting at Dover in September 
of the same year confirmed the action. This 
body met annually in September, but quarter- 
ly meetings were provided for, to be conducted 
by committees appointed at the annual meeting. 

The object of this organization was " to cul- 
tivate the destitute field, and to encourage the 
feeble churches within its bounds." It was felt, 
however, that something more was needed, and 
brethren talked again of forming an Associa- 
tion for Delaware. But separation and change 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 133 

of name would hardly supply the lack of num- 
bers and strength. 

In pursuance of a call signed by ministers 
in Delaware and Pennsylvania, a Council con- 
vened in the First Baptist Church, Chester, 
Pennsylvania, November 20, 1876, to "con- 
sider" "the expediency" of forming a "South 
Philadelphia Association," to be composed of 
sucli of the Baptist churches of Delaware State, 
Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and Philadel- 
phia as favored the movement. The Council 
met, and was well attended. Rev. J. Wheaton 
Smith, D. D., was chosen Moderator, and Rev. 
R. B. Cook, Clerk. 

This Council has been regarded as a failure by 
some, but it did not fail to consider the subject 
before it; and more, it demonstrated several 
things : That Philadelphia churches were not 
as ready to break from their present connec- 
tions as some thought ; that union of Delaware 
County and Delaware State churches with those 
of Philadelphia in a new Association was neith- 
er possible nor desirable ; that no union, even 
among the churches of Delaware County and 
State, could be effected upon the basis of sep- 
aration from the Philadelphia Association. 

12 



134 THE EARLY AND LATER 

Moreover, the Council appointed a Committee, 
consisting of Rev. R. B. Cook, H. G. Weston, 
D. D., J. Wheaton Smith, D. D., Rev. P. L. 
Jones, and Rev. Z. T. Dowen, to work up the 
matter and to call another Council at the prop- 
er time and place. There were members of the 
Committee and others who were not idle in the 
matter. The protracted illness of the Chair- 
man caused delay, but finally a meeting of the 
then existing " Delaware Baptist Missionary 
Union " was arranged for, by Brethren East- 
wood, MacMackin, Parker, and the Chairman 
of the Committee, to meet at Dover in May, 
1878. 

The meeting was largely attended by the 
brethren from Wilmington. It was agreed 
upon to reorganize and enlarge at the next 
meeting, and to invite the churches of Dela- 
ware County, Pennsylvania, and the Faculty 
of Crozer Theological Seminary to meet with 
them and unite in forming the new organiza- 
tion. The meeting was called, and held Sep- 
tember 30 and October 1, 1878, in the Second 
Baptist Church, Wilmington. President H. 
G. Weston, D. D., preached the opening ser- 
mon. Rev. Thomas M. Eastwood was chosen 




HENRY G. WESTON, D. D. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 135 

Moderator, and Eev. B. G. Parker, Clerk, both 
jrro tern. A Committee, consisting of Rev. R. 
B. Cook, Rev. A. G. Thomas, Rev. Alexander 
McArtlmr, Rev. H. B. Harper, Rev. J. R. 
Downer, and G, D. B. Pepper, D. D., was ap- 
pointed to prepare a plan of organization. The 
formation of a Union was recommended, and a 
plan of organization proposed. The report 
was adopted, and the "Delaware Baptist 
Union" was organized October 1, 1878. 

The " Union " was to be composed of such 
churches of Delaware State, Delaware County, 
Pennsylvania, and vicinity as were then pres- 
ent by delegates or Pastor, and such as should 
afterward be admitted, upon application, by a 
two-thirds vote. Each church is entitled to 
appoint five delegates, including the Pastor ; 
and the time of meeting, the third Tuesday and 
Wednesday in November and the second Tues- 
day and Wednesday in May. In November, 
is the Annual Meeting, at which officers are 
elected for the year. 

The object of the "Union" is the promotion 
of fraternity among the churches united, and 
the evangelization of the field. It is required 
that ample time be given, at each meeting, for 



136 THE EARLY AND LATER 

verbal reports from the churches and for the 
consideration of Home and Foreign Missions, 
Education, Bible, Publication, and Sunday- 
school work. Committees are provided for 
on — Place of Meeting; Religious Exercises; 
Pastoral Interchange in Revival Work; The 
Spiritual Condition of the Field — its want and 
supply; and Sunday-schools. The two latter 
were added at a subsequent meeting. 

Upon the organization of the Union, Rev. 
T. M. Eastwood was elected Moderator, Rev. 
B. G. Parker, Clerk, and Deacon George Parris, 
Treasurer. A meeting was appointed for an 
early day at Chester, Pennsylvania, where the 
Union met with the First Church, Rev. A. G. 
Thomas, Pastor, November 19 and 20, 1878. 
Another was held with the church at Milford, 
Delaware, May 13 and 14, 1879, which proved a 
most successful meeting for members, and inter- 
est and effect upon the community and church. 
There were sixty delegates present, who were 
warmly welcomed by the Pastor, Rev. W. H. 
Young, by the church, and by the people at 
large. The November meeting for 1879 was 
held with the church at Media, Pennsylvania, 
Rev. T. G. Wright, Pastor, where the Union 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. )37 

also met with a cordial reception. The meeting 
in May, 1880, was at Dover, Delaware, and 
was largely attended, as well as profitable and 
pleasant. 

Through the efforts of the " Union," pastors 
and students have gone to various points to 
labor, and their expenses have been paid ; and 
a Colporteur and Sunday-school Missionary, 
Eev. Wm. H. Young, appointed by the Baptist 
Publication Society to labor in Delaware. Mr. 
Young has resigned on account of ill-health, 
and it is to be hoped that his successor will 
soon be named. 

Some of the prominent laymen connected 
with the Union are — James Irving, William 
H. Gregg, Washington Jones, Benj. Gartside, 
Sr., Dr. J. B. Weston, George Parris, P. Miles 
Frame, F. C. Mack, G. E. Heyburn, William 
Russell, J. M. Tage, A. B. Stewart, E. Ahis- 
worth, Deacon Duffee, J. H. George, Elnathan 
Smith, E. H. Salisbury, Absalom H. Carey, 
Harry Emmons, G. P. Barker, and Dr. Fred- 
eric Owens. And among those, besides the pas- 
tors of the churches, who have already partici- 
pated by sermon, paper, or address in the meet- 
ings of this youthful organization, and thus 

12* 



138 THE EARLY AND LATER 

helped make them pleasant and profitable are — 
President H. G. Weston, D. D., William Cath- 
cart, D. D., Prof. G. R. Bliss, D. D., J. M. Pen- 
dleton, D. D., Prof. J. C. Long, D. D., Rev. 
G. W. Folwell, Samuel A. Crozer, Esq., Wash- 
ington Jones, Esq., Alfred Gawthrop, Esq., H, 
L. Wayland, D. D., Prof. G. D. B. Pepper, D. D., 
Rev. Alexander McArthur, Rev. Prof. J. R. 
Downer, Rev. Prof. M. Heath, Rev. P. S. Vree- 
land, Rev. Dr. S. Dyer, E. F. James, Rev. Owen 
James, Thomas Swaim, D. D., Rev. David 
Spencer, and G. J. Johnson, D. D. 

The ladies also have had their meetings in 
behalf of Missions, in connection with those 
of the " Union." Mrs. Dr. G. D. B. Pepper, 
Mrs. S. M.' Miller, Mrs. George A. LeMaistre, 
Mrs. P. G. McCollin, Mrs. M. J. Knowlton, 
and others have by their presence and their ad- 
dresses contributed very greatly to deepen the 
interest of Christian women in the work for 
Missions. 

The " Union " consists of eight churches in 
Pennsylvania and eleven in Delaware, with a 
total membership in the nineteen churches of 
about three thousand. The following is a list 
of the Pastors and churches : 




GEO. D. B. PEPPER, D. D. 




||P^ v 



delawake baptists. 139 

In Pennsylvania. 
Brandywine, Rev. J. Wesley Sullivan. Mar- 
cus Hook, Rev. C. J. W. Bishop. Ridley, Rev. 
Charles M. Deitz. First Chester, Rev. A. G. 
Thomas. South Chester, Rev. H. B. Harper. 
Media, Rev. T. G. Wright. North Chester, Rev. 
John Brooks. Village Green, Rev. Miller 

Jones. 

In Delaware. 

Second Wilmington, Rev. R. B. Cook. Dover, 
Rev. B. G. Parker. First German, Wilmington, 
Rev. J. M. Hoefflin. Delaware Avenue, Rev. 
J. M. Haldeman. Zion, Vernon, Rev. George 
Bradford. Wyoming, Rev. George Bradford. 
Magnolia, Rev. James M. Hope. Milford, 

Rev. — . Shiloh, Wilmington, Rev. B. 

T. Moore. Xew Castle, Rev. B. MacMackin. 
Bethany, Wilmington, Rev. T. M. Eastwood. 

A list of licentiates and ministers, not Pas- 
tors and students for the ministry, connected 
with the churches of the Union, should not be 
omitted. The following are the names of those 
connected with the Union, and not mentioned 
elsew r here in this work : Ministers — Rev. H. 
Steelman, Rev. J. S. Read, Rev. Walter Bush- 



140 THE EARLY AND LATER 

ell (Missionary), Eev. E. Austermuhl; and 
Licentiates — F. G. McKeever, George Street, 
Walter Kalley, C. F. Williams, Eugene Ma- 
ginn, Reuben Blakely, and C. C. Earle. 

The present (1880) officers of the Union are 
—Rev. T. M. Eastwood, Moderator ; Rev. H. 
B. Harper, Clerk ; and Deacon George Parris, 
Treasurer. And the churches belonging to the 
Delaware Union have not separated from the 
Philadelphia Association. All the Baptist 
churches in Delaware, excepting what are 
known as Old School Baptists, and all within 
the bounds of the Delaware Union, are con- 
nected with the Philadelphia Association. 

This part of our subject will be closed with 
a brief notice of one of our ministers, who 
was baptized at Wilmington by the Pastor of 
the First Church of that place. He became a 
member of that church, and retained his con- 
nection with it for some years ; and for nearly 
half a century was the Pastor of two of the 
churches of the Delaware Baptist Union. 

Rev. Joseph Walker was born near Marcus 
Hook, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Feb- 
ruary 14, 1787. He lived with his father upon 
the farm until his marriage, working indus- 




RKV JOSEPH WALKJER. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 141 

triously with his own hands. His conversion 
took place when he was between eighteen and 
twenty years of age. His mind seems to have 
been directed to the subject of religion by a 
conversation between himself and Mr. William 
G. Jones, who afterward was his brother-in-law 
and lifelong friend. Alluding to it in a letter 
to Mr. Jones, he says : " This was the first per- 
sonal address I ever had on the subject of re- 
ligion, except a short talk with my father sev- 
eral years before, when I was on a sick bed." 
He adds : " After experience and reflection I 
believe there is nothing so calculated to deeply 
impress the mind on the subject of religion as 
personal conversation with a judicious religious 
friend," and regrets that he had let so many 
opportunities of this kind pass without im- 
provement. He was baptized by Rev. Daniel 
Dodge, then Pastor of the First Baptist Church, 
Wilmington, Delaware, February 6, 1806, at 
the age of twenty-one. From this time he ever 
had an humble view of self and an exalted one 
of Christ. He was ordained to the work of 
the gospel ministry at Marcus Hook, August 
7, 1824, by Rev. William Staughtoii, D. D., 
Rev. Daniel Lewis, and Rev. Thomas J. Kitts, 



142 THE EARLY AND LATER 

and became Pastor of the church, of which he 
retained the care for twenty years. He had but 
one other pastorate — the Brandywine Church, 
Delaware County, Pennsylvania, which he 
served as Pastor twenty-four years. " In both 
of these charges he deserved and received the 
respect and love of all. Mr. Walker was a 
staunch and thorough-going Baptist ; clear and 
decided in his convictions of Bible truth, un- 
swerving in his loyalty to the Master. In all 
the relations of life — as a man of business, as a 
magistrate, as a minister of the gospel — his un- 
impeachable integrity raised him above mali- 
cious criticism. His memory is fragrant in 
Delaware County, his home for some eighty 
years." * 

Mr. Walker was for more than sixty years a 
member of the Philadelphia Association ; in 
1826, he was Clerk ; in 1829, Moderator, and 
for several years President of its Board of 
Trustees. He was only absent twice in sixty- 
two years from its regular meetings. The last 
seven years of his life were spent with his 
daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Trevor, in Al- 

* Rev. E. W. Dickinson, D. D. : Obituary Report, Phil- 
adelphia Association, 1870. 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 143 

legheny City, where he died February 28, 
1870. " 

III.— CONCLUSION. 

It remains for us to add a few statistics to 
show the growth and strength of the later 
Baptist churches in the State of Delaware : 

Date. Churches. Members. Contributions. 

1835 1 131 No table of contributions 

V published in the Phila. 
lOOO <± OOtf J Association Minutes. 

1875 10 886 $14,190.96 

1879 11 1924 20,190.96 

The number of teachers and scholars in four- 
teen Sunday-schools, 2183. 

These figures, however, show growth since 
1835, which is an evidence of God's favor upon 
the Missionary Baptists in the State. But 
more, the later Baptist churches of Delaware 
belong to a growing people, who have increased 
in numbers, in the United States alone, from 
172,972 in 1812 to 2,133,440 in 1879. Be- 
sides their growth at home, their Missions 
have been successful in foreign lands. In 
1814, there were two Missionaries among the 
heathen, supported by American Baptists, and 
no Converts. In 1879, belonging to one so- 



144 THE EAKLY AND LATER 

ciety alone — The American Baptist Missionary- 
Union — there were 160 Missionaries, 990 Na- 
tive preachers, 904 Churches, 80,864 Members, 
all converted heathen, and 18,000 Baptisms 
during the year. In addition to this, the Bible 
has been translated into the languages of mil- 
lions of the human race by the Baptist Mission- 
aries, and by them freely circulated among the 
heathen and the converts to Christianity. The 
native Christian converts have their own Con- 
ventions, Associations, Schools, and Missions, 
conducted by themselves. And the total num- 
ber of baptisms by the Missionaries of the Union 
up to 1879 is 154,000, or nearly as many as 
the members of the American Baptist churches 
when Missions to Asia were inaugurated. We 
exclaim, " What hath God wrought !" What 
results from their principles have the Anti- 
Mission Baptist churches to show, either at 
home or abroad? 

The lesson for us to-day is the necessity of 
the Missionary spirit to the extension, exist- 
ence, and perpetuity of the churches of Christ. 
And these facts regarding both the early and 
later Baptists should encourage the friends of 
Jesus, in and out this State, to redouble their 



DELAWARE BAPTISTS. 145 

efforts to recover lost ground, and to advance 
the denomination in Delaware to the position 
of power and influence it would now most prob- 
ably occupy if there had been no check to its 
progress in the past. This day, but for the 
growth of this Anti-Mission evil, the Baptists 
of this State would be second to none, if not 
leading in numbers and influence, as they are 
in some other States. It behooves every Baptist 
in Delaware to become identified with the work 
of the denomination in the State, to correspond 
with the nearest Baptist Pastor, to start a pray- 
er-meeting, or a Sunday-school, or a church in 
his own dwelling, and call the brethren to help 
in the work; and, above all, to pray for the 
prosperity of our Baptist Zion. 

The narrow-minded may think that sectari- 
anism prompts this appeal, and that the activity 
and growth of Baptist churches will be at the 
cost of other denominations, who would become 
weaker as we grew stronger. But the reverse 
of this is true. The Baptists have their part 
to do in the evangelization of the State ; there 
are sinners to be saved. The prayer is needed 
here as elsewhere, for more laborers. Faith- 
fulness, and consequent growth, on the part 
13 K 



146 THE EARLY AND LATER BAPTISTS. 

of Baptists would only tend to strengthen 
the cause of true religion in general, and to 
make every Christian better and every church 
stronger. 



ADDENDUM. 

Since the sketch of the Milford Church 
(page 122) was stereotyped, it has been ascer- 
tained that its Pastors have been Rev. Henry 
H. Leamy, Rev. Levi Thome, and Rev. A. S. 
Bastian. 



INDEX. 



Accomac Jail, Rev. E. Baker 

iu, 24. 
Adams. Charles Francis, 81. 
Adams, John, 80. 
Ainger, Abigail, 43. 
Ainger, Rachel, 42. 
Ainger, Rev. Thomas, 41, 42, 

43, 45, 46, 47. 
Ainsworth, E., 137. 
Almond, William, 47. 
American Baptist Home Mis- 
sion Society, 97, 98. 103, 

105, 115. 
American Baptist Missionary 

Union, 82. 
American Baptist Publication 

Society, 69, 71, 87, 137. 
Anderson, G-., D. D., 66. 
Andrews, Rev. Emerson, 100. 
Antinomianism. 7, 14, 94, 96. 
Arch Street Presbyterian 

Church, 41. 
Austermiihl, Rev. Edward, 

111, 140. 

B. 

Backus. Rev. J. S., I). D., 121. 
Baker, Rev. Elijah, 22-25, 27, 

28, 34, 37, 39, 96, 106. 
Ball, Mr. S. R., 115. 
Bannister, Ann, 97. 



Bannister, Moses, 97. 

Baptism at midnight in the 
Lahn, 10S. 

Baptism in Wilmington bv 
Rev. P. Hughes, 43. 

Baptist Church, what it is, 8. 

Baptist Church' Manual, 113. 

Baptist City Mission, Wil- 
mington, 129, 130. 

Baptist Education Society, 82. 

Baptist General Tract Soci- 
ety, 87. 

Baptist Missionary Magazine, 
72. 

Baptist Tract Magazine, 69, 
71. 

Baptist Visitor, 106, 132. 

Baptists in Pennsylvania, 10. 

Barker. George P." 104, 137. 

Barker, Ruth, 104. 

Bartlett, Rev. R. E., 123. 
, Barton, Elder Thomas, 22, 87, 

91. 
J Bastian, Rev. A. S., 35, 146. 
'., Batston, Thomas, Esq., 24. 
! Bauer, Rev. F. A., 111. 

Becklev, Robinson, 97. 
! Benedict. Dr. D v 16, 18, 39, 
54, 58, 74, 75. 

, his Historv of the Bap- 
tists, 47, 78, 80, 81. 

Benson, Rev. John, 29, 37. 

147 



148 



INDEX. 



Benson, Rev. John, death of, 
30. 

Beswicks, Vincent, 35. 

Bethany Church, Wilmington, 
139. 

Bethel Church, New Castle 
County, 38, 64, 76, 77. 

Bethel Church, Sussex Coun- 
ty, 77. 

Bickel, P. W., D. D., 67. 

Bishop, Rev. C. J. W., 139. 

Blakely, Reuben, 140. 

Bliss, Prof. G. R,, D. D., 138. 

Blockley Church, Philadel- 
phia, 62. 

Boggs, Mr. John, Sr., 46. 

Boggs, Rev. John, 21, 22, 30, 
32, 33, 34, 36, 38, 41, 42, 43, 
44. 

Boulder, Susanna, 97. 

Bradford, Rev. George, 105, 
106, 120, 121, 139. 

Bradford, John, 112. 

Bradford, Rebecca, 112. 

Brandy wine, Battle of the, 58. 

Brandywine Church, 40, 139, 
142. 

Bratton, Alexander, 112. 

Bratton, Amanda, 112. 

Bratton, Kate, 112. 

Bratton, Mary A., 112. 

Braunstein, Catherine, 111. 

Braunstein, Frank, 130. 

Braunstein, Peter, 111. 

Braunstein, Susan, 111. 

Broadaway, Ptev. Samuel, 36. 

Broad Creek Church, 27, 28, 
39, 75, 76, 77. 

Brooks, Rev. John, 139. 

Brown University, 59. 

Bryn Zion Church, 31. 

Bunyan, John, 36. 

Burlington Baptist Church, 
N. J., 62. 



Burnham, Deacon Andrew, 

120. 
Bush, Mrs. Ann, 40. 
Bushell, Rev. Walter, 139. 



Callaghan Brothers, 127. 

Campbell, Mr. William M., 63. 

Carey, Absalom H., 137. 

Carleton, Rev. George, 101. 

Cathcart, William, D. D., 56, 
80, 138. 

Cathel, Miss Martha, 35. 

" Centennial Offering" by Dr. 
Cathcart, 80. 

Central New Jersey Associa- 
tion, 90, 92. 

Century Confession, The, 17. 

Chalfant, Jacob M., 99. 

Charlton, Rev. Frederick, 98. 

100, 101. 

Chester, First Church, 133, 
136, 139. 

, North, Church, 139. 

, South, Church, 139. 

Chestnut Hill, first Baptist 
preaching at, 46. 

Church Covenants, introduc- 
tion of, 17. 

Circular Letter first adopted 
by Philadelphia Associa- 
tion, 53. 

Clifton, Daniel, Esq., 35. 

Clifton, Mrs. Mary B., 35. 

Cloward, Eliza Jane, 112. 

Cochran, Jane, 97. 

Cohansey Church, N. J., 17. 

Cold Spring Baptist Church, 
10. 

Cole, Rev. Dr. Isaac, 106, 116. 

Coles, Deacon W. C, 118. 

Coles, Rev. , 26. 

Collom, Rev. Jonathan G., 

101, 104. 



INDEX. 



149 



Condron, Rev. George M., 

101. 
Cone, S. H., D. D., 70. 
Cook, Rev. R. B., 07, 08, 69, 

70, 102, 133, 134, 135, 139. 
Cow Marsh Church, 15. 30. 34. 

39, 74, 93. 
Cross, Noah, 42. 
Crozer, Mrs. John P., 125, 127. 
Crozer, Mr. Samuel A., 127, 

138. 
Crozer Theological Seminary, 

94, 121, 124, 128, 134. 

D. 

Dagg, John L., D. D., 69, 70. 

Dale, Mr., 87, 88. 

Darby, Susan, 97. 

Davis, Mr., 15. 

Davis, Rev. David, 20, 32, 33, 
54, 55. 

Davis, Rev. Hugh, 32. 

Davis, Rev. John, 54. 

Davis, Rev. Noah, 23. 

Davis. Rev. William, 33. 

Dazev, Rev. Eliphaz, 27, 31, 
33,36, 43, 45. 

Decline of Baptist Churches 
in Delaware, causes of, 78. 

Deitz. Rev. Charles M., 139. 

Delaware Association, 38, 48. 
50, 51, 61, 72, 74-96. 

Delaware Association, new, 
proposed, 132. 

Delaware Avenue Church, 
Wilmington, 112, 115, 127, 
130, 139. 

Delaware Baptist Missionary 
Union, 132, 140. 

. ladies' meeting in be- 
half of, 138. 

Delaware Bible Society, S4. 

Delaware, first Baptist church- 
es in, 10. 



Delaware, freedom of Baptists 
in, 25. 

Delaware, lesson of Baptist 
History in, 7. 

Delaware, needs of, 8. 

Delaware Society for Domes- 
tic Missions. 84, 87. 
| Dennison, Rev. C. W., 101. 

Der Sendbote, 111. 

Dewees, Col., 57. 

Dewees. Cornelius, 34, 35. 

Dewees, Rev. Joshua, 31, 36. 

Dickerson. J. S., D. D., 101. 

Dickinson, E. W., D. D., 132, 
142. 

Dingle, Rev. Edward Carter, 
27, 30. 

Disputation betweenAbel Mor- 
gan and Samuel Finley, 53. 

Dobbins. Rev. Frank S., 72. 

Dodge, Daniel, D. D., 47, 48, 
61, 82, 83, 141. 

Dover Church. 103-107. 120, 
121, 132, 137. 

Dowen, Rev. Z. T., 134. 

Downer, Rev. J. R., 135, 138. 
' Dutch Creek Church, 15, 31, 

39, 74. 
| Duffee, Deacon, 137. 
! Duval, Rev. B. F.. 44. 
, Dwver, Rev. W. H. H., 117. 

Dyer, Rev. S., Ph. D., 138. 

E. 
Earle, A. B., D. D., 116. 
Earle, Alfred, 50. 
Earle, C. C, 140. 
Earle, Samuel, 50. 
East Landing Church, 32. 
J Eastwood, Rev. Thomas M.. 
123, 128. 129, 134, 136, 139 
140. 
j Eaton, Rev. Isaac, A. M., 55. 
Edwards, Rev. Morgan, A. M., 



13* 



150 



INDEX. 



16, 18, 19, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 
34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 
58-60, 75, 81. 

Ellis, John, 46. 

Elm Street Church, Wilming- 
ton, 123, 128, 129, 130. 

Emmons, Harry, 137. 

Evans, Mr., 15. 

Evans, Rev. Thomas, 53. 

F. 
Earrell, Rev. Gideon, 21, 27. 

31, 33, 34, 46, 63, 69. 
Earrell, Mary, 63. 
Fellman, Rev. J., 112. 
Ferris, Mrs., 42. 

Fifth Church, Philadelphia, 
64. 

Finley, Rev. Samuel, 53. 

First Church, Philadelphia, 
52, 59. 

First Church, Wilmington, 40, 
50, 76, 77, 84, 92, 102, 113. 
123, 127. 

First German Church, Phila- 
delphia, 109. 

First German Church, Wil- 
mington, 107-112. 

First Presbyterian Church, 
Wilmington, 44. 

Fleeson, Rev. Thomas, 23, 30, 

32, 34, 36, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. 
Fleischman, Rev. Conrad, 109, 

110. 
Fletcher, Rev. Leonard, 97. 
Flippo, Rev. O. F., 105, 106, 

118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 130, 

132. 
Flood, Rev. Joseph, 30, 36, 46. 
Folwell, Rev. George W., 51, 

114, 118, 121, 132, 138. 
Fouling Creek, Maryland, 26, 

28. 
Frame, Miles P., 137. 



Franklin, Benjamin, 54. 
Freehold Church, New Jersey, 

55. 
Friendship Engine - house, 

meeting in, 12. 
Fulton, J. D., D. D., 8. 

G. 

Galbraith, John, 127. 
Gano, Rev. John, 55. 
Garrett, Mr. W. E., 127. 
Gartside, Mr. Benjamin, Sr., 

127, 137. 
Gates, General, 58. 
Gawthrop, Alfred, Esq., 100, 

118, 138. 
George, J. H., 137. 
George, Mrs. Jonathan, 125. 
Georgetown Church, 32. 
German Baptist Church. 

Brooklyn, N. Y., 107. 
German Baptists, connection 

of, with Delaware Baptists. 

71. 
German Church, Wilmington, 

71. 
Gibbins, Rev. John, 27, 28. 
Gibbins, Rev. Jonathan, 27, 

30, 37. 
Gibbins, Deacon Joshua, 30. 
Gibbins, Rev. Samuel, 27, 29. 
Gilbert, Rev. Curtis, 43. 
Gill, Dr. John, of London, 59. 
Gill, Rev. T. A., U. S. N., 114. 
Gillette, A. D., D. D., 80, 104. 
Gospel Church, a, 42. 
Grafton, Elder William, 22. 
Graham, Sarah A., 97. 
Gravelly Branch Church, 28, 

30, 37, 39, 75, 77. 
Great Valley Church, Penn- 
sylvania, 32, 55, 56, 61. 
Green, Rev. Samuel R., 48, 84. 
Greene, Rev. David, 85. 



INDEX. 



151 



Gregg, Lucy V., 112, 127. 
Gregg, William H., 112, 113, 

127, 130, 137, 
Griffith, Rev. Benjamin, of 

Montgomery Church, 20. 
Griffith, Benjamin, D. D., 99. 
Griffith, Rev. Thomas, 14, 19. 
Griffiths, Abel, 43. 
Grimmell, Jeremiah, 71, 107, 

108, 110. 
Grimmell, Rev. Julius C, 107. 
Grimmell, Margaret, 110. 

H. 
Haldeman, Rev. Isaac M., 

114, 139. 
Harker, Rev. Samuel, 54, 87. 
Harper, Rev. H. B., 135, 139, 

140. 
Harris, Samuel, 24. 
Harrison, Rev. Charles, 107. 
Haselhuhn, Rev. J. C, 111. 
Haswell, Rev. J. M., 116. 
Heath, Rev. M., 120, 121, 122, 

131, 138. 
Heazlet, John, 97. 
Hera, Rev. E. R., 104. 
Heyburn, G. E., 137. 
Hirzel, Mrs. Theresa, 111. 
Historical Society of Dela- 
ware, 44. 
History, what it is, 6. 
Hodgman, Mr. S. A., 100. 
Hoefflin, Rev. J. M., 107, 108, 

112, 139. 
Hopkins, Rev. C. J., 105. 
Hopkins, Elizabeth, 43. 
Hope, Rev. J. M., 118, 119, 

120, 121, 122, 139. 
Housel, Wilson, 50. 
Howe, General, 58. 
Hudson River Association, 90, 

92. 
Hughes, Evan David, 33. 



Hughes, Rev. Philip, 21, 22, 
25,26, 27, 28, 30, 34, 37,39, 
40, 42, 43, 44, 96, 106. 

Hyatt, James, 33. 



Imposition of hands, intro- 
duction of, 17. 
Independents, the, 32. 
Iron Hill Meeting-house, 15. 
Irving, James, 137. 

J. 

James, E. E., 138. 
James, James, 16. 
James, Maury, 130. 
James, Rev. Owen, 138. 
James, Philip, 16. 
Jerseys, the, IS. 
Johnson, G. J., D. D., 138. 
Johnson, Rev. Jethro, 72, 86, 

87. 
Jones, Rev. David, A. M., 45, 

55-58. 
Jones, Eleanor Evans, 55. 
Jones, Rev. Griffith, 33. 
Jones, Horatio Gates, D. D., 

55. 
Jones, Hon. H. G., 55, 58. 
Jones, Rev. James, 33. 
Jones, Rev. Jenkin, 52. 
Jones, Rev. Miller, 139. 
Jones, Morgan, 55. 
Jones, Rev. P. L., 134. 
Jones, Samuel, D. D., 45, 53. 
Jones, Mr. Washington, 98, 

99, 100,130, 137, 138. 
Jones, Mr. William G., 99, 102, 

141. 

K. 
Kaiser, Mrs. Elizabeth, 111. 
K alley, Walter, 140. 
Kees, Thomas C, 112. 



152 



INDEX. 



Kelsay, Rev. R., 30. 
Kennard, Joseph H., D. D., 50, 

61, 97. 
Kennard, J. Spencer, D. D., 

63. 
King, Peter. 35. 
Kitts, Rev. Thomas J., 48, 61, 

141. 
Knapp, Elder Jacob, 100, 

101. 
Knowlton, Mrs. M. J., 138. 



Leach, Rev. Sandford, 100, 
101. 

Leamy, Rev. Henry H., 146. 

Lehmann's " Baptist Churches 
in Germany," 66. 

LeMaistre, George A., 100. 

LeMaistre, Mrs. George A., 
138. 

Lemon, Dr. Robert, 24, 96. 

Lewis, Rev. Daniel, 141. 

Lewis, Rev. David, 49. 

Lewisburg University, 128. 

Lincoln Church, 117, 118, 122. 

Little Creek Church, 76, 77. 

London Tract Church, Penn- 
sylvania, 15, 44. 

Long, Prof. J. C, D. D., 138. 

Lord's Supper administered 
in private houses, 33. 

Louden, Mr., 38. 

Lower Dublin Church, 10, 52. 

Lower Saxony Tract Society, 
68. 

Lunsford, Rev. Lewis, 26. 

M. 
Mack, Deacon F. C., 116, 137. 
Maclay, Dr., 68. 
MacMackin, Rev. B., 124, 126, 

134, 139. 
Madison University, 131. 



Maginn, Eugene, 140. 

Magnolia Church, 117, 121, 
122, 139. 

Magonagill, Beulah, 104. 

Manning, Dr. James, 53. 

Marcus Hook Church, 102, 
139, 141. 

Marsh, Rev. W. H. H., 51, 
101, 118, 132. 

Maryatt, Rev. E. E., 121, 128. 

Matthews, William, 50. 

Mattson, Mary, 43. 

McArthur, Rev. Alexander, 
101, 135, 138. 

McCollin, Mrs. P. G., 138. 

McDowel, Mr. Philip, 1 14. 

McKannan, Rev. Mr., 42, 43, 
44. 

McKeever, F. G., 140. 

McKim, John, 43. 

McLaughlin, Rev. James, 42, 
43. 

Media Baptist Church, Penn- 
sylvania, 136, 139. 

Meredith, Job, Sr., 31. 

Meredith, Luff, 31. 

Meredith, Rev. Peter, 36, 93. 

Merriken, Rev. Richard H., 
119. 

Middletown Church, New Jer- 
sey, 53. 

Miles, Rev. George L, 97. 

Miles, Richard, 18. 
; Milford Church, 118, 122, 136, 

139, 146. 
J Miller, Rev. John, 50. 
| Miller, Mrs. S. M., 138. 
J Millsborough Church, 77. 
I Mispillion Church, 15, 34, 36, 
39, 74, 75, 77. 

Missionary Societies in Dela- 
ware, decline of, 90-96. 

Missionary Society in Dela« 
ware. 82-90. 



INDEX. 



153 



Missionary spirit, necessity 
of, 144. 

Montgomery Church, Pa., 20. 

Moore, Rev. B. T., 124, 139. 

Moore, Marion, 112. 

Morgan, Rev. Abel, translates 
the Confession, 17. 

Morgan, Rev. Abel, Jr., A. M., 
16, 53, 54, 55, 60. 

Morgan ap Rhyddarch, 20. 

Morgan, Rev. Enoch, 20, 32. 

Morton, David, 33. 

Mount Moriah, see Cow Marsh. 

Mount Zion Church, Inde- 
pendent, 32. 

Miihlhausen, John, 111. 

Miihlhausen, Sophia, 111. 

N. 
Naylor, Rev. N. C, 106, 123. 
Neutze, Frederick, 111. 
Newark Academv, 34. 
New Castle Church, 124-127, 

139. 
New Jersey Association, 90, 

92. 
New Market Street (Fourth) 

Church, Philadelphia, 62. 
New York Association, 90, 92. 
Nichols, Rev. D. A., 104, 105. 

O. 

Old School Baptists, 140. 

Old School and New School 
Baptists, 94, 95. 

Old Swedes' Church, Wilming- 
ton, 10. 

Oncken, John G-., D. D., 65- 
71, 108. 

Owens, Dr. Frederick, 137. 

P. 
Paoli, massacre at, 58. 
Parham, Miss E. C., 117. 



Parker, Rev. B. GL, 107, 134, 

135, 136, 139. 

P arris, George, 103, 104, 136, 
137, 140. 

Parris, Jane E., 104. 

Parsons, Mr., 32. 

Patten, Rev. John, 33, 34. 

Peck, John M., D.'D., 72. 

Peckworth, Rev. John P., 49, 
50, 82. 

Pencader Academy, 53. 

Pendleton, J. M., D. D., 138. 

Penn, Admiral, 25. 

Penn, William, advocates lib- 
erty of conscience, 25. 

, landing of, 10. 

, purchase of land from, 

15. 

Pennsylvania General Asso- 
ciation, 62. 

Pennypack Church, 14, 18. 

Pepper, Prof. G. D. B., D. D., 
135, 138. 

Pepper, Mrs. G. D. B., 138. 

Phoenix Engine-house, meet- 
ings in, 113. 

Philadelphia Association. 17, 
20, 31, 33, 34,43,48, 50, 51, 
52, Ql, 74. 75, 80,90, 92,97, 
101, 113, 115, 123, 124, 128, 
132. 

, Delaware churches con- 
nected with, 140. 

, first printing of Minutes 

by, 60. 

Philadelphia, First Church, 
40, 49. 

Piepgrass, Rev. R., 111. 

Piscataway Church, New Jer- 
sey, 48. 

Plymouth Church, 115-117, 
122. 

Pollard, Rev. John, 30. 

Porter, Mr., 38. 



154 



INDEX. 



Presbyterians, Baptist Church 
in Wilmington established 
by, 41. 

Princeton College, New Jer- 
sey, 54. 

Probasco, Mr. R. W. L., 132. 

Pulpit, movable, in private 
houses, 37. 

Purinton, Rev. D. B., 105, 
115, 116, 117, 118. 

Putnam, Rev. H. C, 105. 

Q. 

Queen Anne's Church, 74. 
Quinby, Edgar H., 100. 

R. 

Radnor Church, Pennsyl- 
vania, 18. 

Ransom, Elder Elisha, 48. 

Read, Rev. J. S., 139. 

Read, Mr. Miles S., 121. 

Read, Mr. William S., 121. 

Reader, Rev. J. J., 107. 

Redman, John, 42, 43. 

Rhees, Morgan J., D. D., 78, 
98, 100. 

Rhode Island College, see 
Brown University, 29. 

Rice, Mr., 83. 

Ridley Church, Pa., 139. 

Rittenhouse, Elder E., 50, 77. 

R,obinson, Rev. William K., 22, 
92. 

Rogers, William, D. D., 75. 

liowanty Church, 26. 

Roxborough Church, Pa., 46. 

Russell, William, 137. 

S. 

Salisbury, birthplace of Rev. 

Noah Davis, 23. 
Salisbury Association, 23, 27, 

34, 37, 75, 76, 77. 



Salisbury, Mr. E. H., 117, 137. 
Salisbury, Rev. E. P., 116, 117. 
Salisbury, Mrs. E. P., 117. 
Sansom Street Church, Phila- 
delphia, 64, 65, 70. 
Schuylkill, baptism in the, 

46. 
Schwager, Elizabeth, 111. 
Schwager, Mr. John, 109, 111. 
Scott, Mr., 93. 
Sears, Barnas, D. D., LL.D., 

66, 68. 
Second Church, Boston, Mass., 

54. 
Second Church, Hopewell, 

New Jersey, 62. 
Second Church, Philadelphia, 

48, 61. 
Second Church, Wilmington, 

96-102, 103, 109, 110, 112, 

113, 134. 
Semple, Miss Anne, 65, 108, 

110, 112, 113. 
Semple, Rev. R. B., 24. 
Semple's History, 96. 
Separate Baptists, 23. 

Shaffer, , 122. 

Shanafelt, Rev. A. F., 121. 
Shiloh Church, Wilmington, 

123, 139. 
Singing, introduction of, 16, 17. 
Slack, Mary, 112, 113. 
Smart, Joseph, 50. 
Smith, Elnathan, 137. 
Smith, J. Wheaton, D. D., 133, 

134. 
Smith, Mary, 112. 
Smith, Robert, 42, 43. 
Snead, Rev. S., 36. 
Society for the Propagation 

of the Faith in Foreign 

Parts, 81. 
Sounds, the, Church, 27, 28, 

39, 75, 77. 



INDEX. 



155 



South Carolina, church form- 
ed in, 15, 16. 

South Philadelphia Associa- 
tion, considered, 133. 

Southampton Church, Penn- 
sylvania, 55. 

Spencer, Rev. David, 46, 55, 
138 

Spencer, Rev. W. H., 117, 118, 
119. 

Springer, Margaret, 97. 

Stadiger, Mr. J. J., 127. 

Statistics of Delaware Baptist 
Churches, 143. 

Staton, Elder G. W., 22. 

Staughton, William, D. D., 83, 
141. 

Steele, Rev. Isaac, 30. 

Steelman, Rev. H., 139. 

Sterrett, Margaret, 97. 

Stettzer, Mrs., 35. 

Stewart, A. B., 137. 

Stites, Jonathan, 103, 104. 

Stites, Mary, 103, 104. 

Stow, Mr. John, 40, 43. 

Stow, Sarah, 43. 

Stow, Thomas, 43. 

Street, George, 140. 

Stroud, Mary E., 97. 

Strumpfer, Rev. John D., 49. 

Sullivan, Rev. J. Wesley, 139. 

Sutton, Rev. John, 21, 30, 33. 

Swaim, Thomas, D. D., 122, 
138. 

T. 
Tage, J. M., 137. 
Taylor, J. B. D. D., 23. 

, his History of Virginia 

Baptists, 96. 
Tenth Church, Philadelphia, 

62. 
Third Church, Philadelphia, 

49. 



Thomas, Rev. A. G., 135, 136, 

139. 
Thomas, Rev. B. D., 64. 
Thomas, Rev. Elisha, 19. 
Thomas, Rev. Owen, 20. 
Thompson, Rev. David, 26. 
Thompson, Rev. John P., 103. 
Thorne, Rev. Levi, 146. 
Tindall, Gideon F., 97. 
Todd, Sally Ann, 97. 
Tomlinson, Joseph, 43. 
Townsend, Charles, 112. 
Trevor, M. K., M. D., 142. 
Trott, Rev. Samuel, 22, 90. 
Trumpp, Rev. H., 111. 
Tubbs, Captain Calvin, 63-71, 

72. 
Tubbs, Calvin, Jr., 67. 
Tubbs, Samuel Welsh, 67. 
Tull, Mr., 27. 
Turley, Captain E., 65. 

U. 

University ofPennsylvania, 

54. 
Ustick, Rev. Thomas, 49, 95. 

V. 
Village Green Church, 139. 
Vreeland, Rev. P. S., 138. 

W. 

Walker, Elizabeth, 104. 

Walker, Rev. Henry, 42, 43. 

Walker, Rev. Joseph, 140-143. 

Walter, Rev. John P., 103, 
104. 

Warren, Jonah G., D. D., 70. 

Waters, Rev. James, 101, 121. 

Watts, Brother, 18. 

Way, Mrs. Elizabeth, 40, 43. 

Wayland, H. L., D. D., 138. 

Wayland Seminary, Washing- 
ton, D. C, 124. 



156 



INDEX. 



Wayne, General Anthony, 58. 

Webb, A. M., 117, 118, 122. 

Welsh Concordance, 20. 

Welsh, Hon. John, 67. 

Welsh, John, Esq., 65. 

Welsh Neck Association, 16. 

Welsh Neck Church, South 
Carolina, 16. 

Welsh Tract, 15. 

Welsh Tract Church, 14, 15, 
18, 19, 30, 40, 42, 52, 53, 54, 
55, 63, 74. 76, 77, 80, 83, 84, 
90, 92. 

, branches of, 31. 

, out-stations of, 38. 

Welsh Tract Church Book, 17. 

Weston, President H.G., D. D., 
134, 138. 

Weston, Dr. J. B., 137. 

Wilegoos, Mr., 27. 

Williams, C. F., 140. 

Williams, Thomas, 43. 

Williamsburg Church, 108. 

Willis, Mr., 15. 

Willis, Rev. , 26.. 

Willis, John, 37. 

Wilmington, origin of Bap- 
tists in, 39. 



Wilmington, First Church, 15. 

48, 50, 61, 74, 97. 
Wilmington, First German 

Church, 139. 
Wilmington, Second Church 

formed, 92. 
Wilmington Institute, 113. 
Winter, Thomas, D. D., 51. 
Women collectors for Domes- 
tic Missions, 84. 
Woolford, Rev. Stephen W., 

21, 87, 88. 
Woolsey, Rev. James J., 97. 
Worth, Rev. William, 30. 
Wright, Rev. T. G., 136, 139. 
Wyoming Church, 120, 121, 

139. 
Wyoming Institute, 105, 106, 

121, 130. 



YORKTOWN, 58. 

Young, Rev. William H., 124, 
126, 136, 137. 



Zion Church, 118-120, 121, 
123, 139. 



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